Sanjeev K. Sharma
JAMMU, Aug 19: Hard to believe but it is true that none of the Primary Health Centers (PHCs) in tehsil Basohli have any facility of water supply while the functioning of these Health Centers has been further hit by the acute shortage of staff and other necessary facilities.
Locals of Basohli informed that PHCs at Sandhar, Bhoond, Hutt, Karanwada, Plassi and Sananghat lack water supply while only 2-3 staffers visit these Centers for offering their services.
“Poor functioning of these Health Centers is leaving the ailing people with no other alternate than to visit Sub-District Hospital Basohli,” they informed.
Sources informed that PHC Sandhar was established to cater the medical needs of about 5000 people of the area but it lacks the very basic facility of water supply and the power supply there is also not proper while only 3-4 staffers including a Medical Officer (MO) remain available at the PHC due to which its working has been badly affected and the approach road to the PHC is also in dilapidated condition.
Locals at the village said that the health centre is surrounded by wild growth and is functioning as a Vaccination Centre for COVID-19 at present.
Spending most of his time in social works at his village Sandhar after he retired from a government job, Mahadev Singh, 60, said it pains him to see ailing people from his hamlet travelling 32 kms to reach Basohli Sub-District Hospital for getting medical services as the Health Centre at their door step is non-functional in the age of digital India.
Surinder Singh, Sarpanch Panchayat Hutt said PHC at Hutt has no water supply facility and there are only 2-3 staffers visiting the Health Centre to offer their services while other have been attached to other places.
When contacted, District Development Council (DDC) Chairman Kathua, Colonel Mahan Singh (retired) said tender for the approach road for PHC Sandhar have been floated and the work may start after the rainy season.
On water connections to the PHCs he said that directions have been given to the authorities concerned and the AEEs and other officers are on job in this regard.
When contacted, Director Health Services Jammu, Dr. Renu Sharma said they have given the list of PHCs lacking water supply facility to the Jal Shakti Department for providing water supply at such Centers.
“Though J&K Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha had set August 15, 2021 as the deadline for providing water supply to such PHCs in the Union Territory yet the work seems to have not been completed so far,” she said adding that she will also ask the concerned CMO Kathua to look into the matter.
On staff shortage she said, in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, they deputed teams of health workers at Lakhanpur to screen the people entering Jammu and this has further deterred the already existing staff shortage problem at Health Centers in Jammu.
“Since last year we have deputed about 30-40 teams (three persons in a team) at Lakhanpur to screen those entering Jammu and these teams work round the clock on rotation base,” Dr. Renu informed adding that even teams from Jammu are also brought to Lakhanpur for screening the visitors.
“We have also written to higher authorities on staff shortage problem after which J&K Services Selection Board has advertised the vacant posts,” Dr. Renu further informed.
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