PHC Kakapora sans all fascilities for basic health care

Pulwama: At a time when authorities are tall claims of improving the health sector in the state,  the Primary Health Centers (PHC) in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district reflect a completely contrarian picture.

They PHC’s in this district are in  shambles.

The PHC’s were established in many villages of Pulwama district decades ago. But, these centers are reeling under shortage of staff and are devoid of basic facilities.

As such, the poor health care provided by the PHC’s is forcing the patients to visit either the district hospital or private clinics and diagnostic centers for treatment.

Providing substance to their claims, locals said that the decades old PHC Kakapora is virtually non-functional due to the shortage of staff and lack of facilities.

“The hospital caters to the population of at least seventy villages but the facilities at the hospital are no better than a dispensary. It is a couple of doctors and few Para-medics who run the hospital in shifts,” a group of locals told The Kashmir Press.

Ironically the Para-medics at the hospital, according to locals, assign the job of their night duty to nursing students.

“Most of the Para-medics in the hospital in order to avoid the trouble of performing night duties give assign the job to nursing students against 250 rs a night,” locals complained.

Medical officer PHC, Kakpora could not be contacted for his version.

On the other hand, the condition of PHC Samboora is no different.

Locals complained that the patients of the area suffer badly due to the poor healthcare facilities at the hospital. Though the authorities spent crores of rupees on the new building block of the hospital few years ago but failed to equip it with the facilities.

Despite new building, PHC Samboora is no better

“The authorities spent crores of rupees on the construction of the the hospital building but the facilities in the hospital remain the same as it were decades ago. We were expecting improvement in the healthcare in the hospital after the construction of new building but nothing has changed here except the building,” said a local, Nisar Ahmad.

Chief medical officer Pulwama, Dr Hasina said that she will look into all these issues.

“I have recently joined as CMO. But I assure you that I will look into all these issues,” CMO told Kashmir Press.