Kangpokpi dissents against skeletal Community Health Centre
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 01 2012: Against the notified 12 doctors at Kangpokpi Community Health Centre, only four doctors are serving at the CHC.

The four doctors are treating all the OPD patients as well as patients admitted in wards which often result in uneasy altercations between the doctors and patient parties.

Taking strong exception against the failure of the Government to make up the shortfalls in terms of both manpower and infrastructure, members of Kangpokpi Women's Welfare Organisation and students staged a protest demonstration within the CHC complex today.

Apart from covering the protest demonstration, a team of media persons made spot assessment of the difficulties being faced by doctors and patient parties at the CHC.

Leaders of Kangpokpi Town Committee, Youth Union and Women's Welfare Organisation decried the Government's failure to pay any heed to their repeated appeals to provide the necessary manpower and infrastructure.

Kangpokpi Women's Welfare Organisation and students staged protest within the CHC complex

They said that the CHC was upgraded from PHC in 1988 .

Following the upgradation, a few buildings and quarters were built and nothing more was done.

Though the CHC should have 12 doctors, there were not even seven doctors at any point of time.

"The Government's lackadaisical attitude amounts to inviting bandhs and blockades but we are not resorting to such steps in view of the hardships people would face", they said.

The four doctors serving at the CHC are enduring huge pressure and harassment because the number of patients coming to the CHC is quite enormous.

Very often, there were heated arguments between patient parties and the doctors.

It avert any untoward incident, adequate security should be posted in the CHC.

MO in-charge of the CHC Dr Kamsat Khongsai said that there is not a single specialist doctor in the CHC.

The four doctors and the existing staff nurses are working round the clock to examine and treat all the patients coming there.

At least 10 doctors including specialist in paediatrics, gynaecology and medicine should be posted in the CHC.

The MO in-charge lamented that not a single doctor was sent to the CHC even as 400 doctors were appointed last year.

He also urged the Government to demarcate the CHC's compound and put up compound fence so as to avoid encroachment.

It is not only doctors.

There is shortage of staff nurse as well as Grade IV employees.

There is no clerical staff for district immunization.

The X-ray machine has broken down and medicines are not provided in time.

There is no kitchen for patients and the toilets have all worn out.

There is also an urgent need for posting an AIDS officer at the CHC in view of the rising number of HIV patients in Kangpokpi area.

Highlighting all the requirements, a memorandum has been submitted to local MLA Nemcha Kipgen, said the MO in-charge.