Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Dec 26: The residents of Chanapora and other adjoining areas today sought the upgradation of the Community Health Centre (CHC), Chanapora to the level of Sub-District Hospital (SDH) so that the people in the area, as well as those living nearby, are benefitted.
The residents said that the hospital has the capacity of functioning as SDH and has got the necessary infrastructure as well as the machinery. “However, due to the reasons which are not known, the upgradation and making the healthcare services available round the clock has not been ensured so far,” said one of the residents, Taufeeq Ahmad.
He said that during the COVID pandemic, the hospital was functional round-the-clock, while scores of C-section surgeries of the COVID positive women were carried out, however, he said, once the COVID situation ebbed, the hospital was back to function as CHC which remains open till 5.
“During the COVID, the patient load of LD and district Budgam was shifted to the hospital and the necessary manpower was also stationed at the hospital, it proved to be useful, but once, things went back to normal, the manpower disappeared, leaving the hospital deserted,” the residents said.
It is to be noted that before the pandemic, the Health Department had a plan of making the hospital function as SDH and stationing the required manpower at the facility, however, after the pandemic, the authorities used the infrastructure and facilities to the fullest, but the plan of its upgradation was shelved for unknown reasons.
The residents argued what is the use of the machinery which has been purchased after spending crores when there is nobody available to operate them. “At least there have to be 50 staffers stationed here, but what is happening is the total opposite; the machines are gathering dust while the repeated appeals of the residents are falling on deaf ears.”
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