Shortages galore at Yairipok CHC
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 07 2015: Although Yairipok Community Health Centre (CHC) which has 30 beds has many shortages in terms of equipment and manpower, the CHC has been functioning quite well delivering health care service to a considerable section of rural people.

The CHC shifted to the new building in 2012 and it has eight doctors, two AYUSH doctors, nine staff nurses, five female health workers and four supervisors.

The existing total number of staff is totally incompatible with the guidelines given by the Indian Public Health Standard (IPHS) with regard to CHCs.

On account of the acute shortage of manpower, the existing staff have been bearing all the burden, Supervisor Keisam Surendro told The Sangai Express.

As there is no Gynaecologist, the CHC has no facility to deliver babies through Cesarian Section.

As such, expectant mothers are referred to either to RIMS or JNIMS if the doctors thought that they would not be able to deliver babies normally.

Nonetheless, the ambulance available at the CHC is provided to take the expectant mothers to better equipped hospitals free of cost, if necessary.

On the average, 10 to 40 mothers deliver babies at the CHC in a month and the success rate is quite high, claimed Surendro.

However, patients have been enduring lots of difficulties as there is not a single specialist doctor at Yairipok CHC.

With no staff available to man the OPD ticket counter, one Grade IV employee has been manning the ticket counter.

Nonetheless, the existing staff have been, somehow, running the CHC without much problems.

Apart from the adjoining areas of Yairipok, a large number of patients belonging to Ukhrul, Senapati, Chandel and Imphal East come to the CHC.

The CHC is also a popular choice for the people of Wangkhem, Andro and Heirok Assembly segments .

But there is no Surgeon, Obstetrician, Gynaecologist, Paediatrician or Anaesthetist in the CHC.

Two major problems plaguing the CHC is power and potable water supply.

Moreover, there is no fence around the CHC's compound.

More than 100 patients come to the CHC every day and pregnant women are examined free of cost.

Talking with The Sangai Express, Medical and Health Director Dr O Ibomcha maintained that they have been working to address the problem of absence or shortage of specialist doctors in CHCs.

But one or two specialist doctor(s) cannot be simply posted at CHC for they must work as a team.

Nonetheless, most of the district hospitals of the State have adequate number of specialist doctors.

Expectant mothers and their families may dial toll free number 102 to avail free ambulance service for taking them to nearby PHCs, CHCs or district hospitals.

Even if an expectant mother is brought to a health centre or hospital for delivering baby by a hiring a vehicle, she would be given Rs 1000 once she is discharged as reimbursement of fares she incurred, Dr Ibomcha said.

Under Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), each women is give Rs 700 in rural areas and Rs 600 in urban areas after child delivery.

Moreover, they are allowed to stay in health centres for three days after child delivery apart from providing daily diets free of cost.

They are also provided blood free of cost, if necessary, continued the Director.

There is one doctor for every 1000 people and one nurse for every 260 people in the State.

At the all India level, there is one nurse for every 2000 people and one doctor for every 1770 people.

There are around 12,000 registered nurses in the State.

Although large number of people come to Yairipok CHC, they have to wait for long hours because doctors often don't come on time, said one woman OPD patient.

She also expressed keen desire to station at least one Gynaecologist at the CHC.

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