Nishikant Khajuria
MAHORE, June 15: In Jammu and Kashmir State, which propagates to be ranked first in the country for health services, there are areas and towns where aspiring for motherhood is virtually suicidal and spells inviting death because of no medical aid.
It may sound incredible but shockingly true that frequent deaths of pregnant women due to no medical aid are taking place in the area falling under Mahore Sub-division of Reasi district.
As the Sub-District Hospital Mahore has no Gynecologist and there is no option other than to refer the patients to District Hospital Reasi in case of emergency, the bumpy ride on extremely bad conditioned road guarantees deterioration of condition of the pregnant women and various times death of the mother as well as infant.
Despite being declared Sub-District Hospital in 2008, there is only one doctor posted in this hospital against the sanctioned posts of five Assistant Surgeons. Besides, there is one ISM doctor under NRHM against the 7 sanctioned posts while in the absence of Clerical staff, a Basic Health Worker is performing the job of Clerk in this hospital.
According to Rashpal Singh, Block Medical Officer Mahore, there are 29 sanctioned posts of Assistant Surgeon in the Mahore block but 28 of them are vacant.
Across the Mahore block, there are total 45 Health Institutions, which include one Sub-District Hospital at Mahore Town, 5 Primary Health Centers ( one each at Arnas, Darmari, Gota, Bagga-Dass and Banna), six New Type Primary Health Centers (one each at Thuroo, Buddhan, Lar, Deval, Barmat Kot and Tulli) and 33 Sub-Centers, the BMO added.
There is not even ISM doctor under NRHM at any of the NTPHC and Sub-Centers, which are being run by NOs and Medical Assistants.
Further, for the population of more than 1.5 lakh in Mahore block, there is only one Ambulance. Two ambulances have been sanctioned for the hospital but only one is functional, confirmed an official on the condition of anonymity.
While extremely poor condition of health services in Mahore block is general grievance of everyone in this remote area, the locals are particularly concerned and disturbed over increased number of deaths of pregnant women due to no medical aid. “During the last few days, two cases of death of pregnant women have taken place at Sub-District Hospital Mahore ,” informed Mohd Shafi, Sarpanch of Bathoi-B who runs a general store in front of the Sub-District Hospital.
Since the new building of Sub-District Hospital is still under construction for the last five years, the post of Gynecologist here was abolished owing to no theatre room for the deliveries. Further, due to delay in completion of the new building of Sub-District Hospital, six posts of MD in Orthopedics, Anesthesia etc are also lying vacant.
The work on the new hospital building was started more than five years back but not even a single block out of three has yet been constructed for the reasons best known to the executing agency and the contractor, who is kin of the local MLA.
Admitting that a number of death cases of pregnant women in Mahore area were being reported, Director Health Jammu Dr Baljeet Singh Pathania said that the Directorate would soon appoint a Gynecologist in Sub-District Hospital Mahore as one of the three blocks of new hospital building is likely to be completed and made functional in next few months.
Further, he added, newly appointed Medical Officers are being appointed there besides sanctioning one more Ambulance to cater to the area.
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