Functioning of Maphou PHC comes to standstill, MLA Yamthong fumes
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, November 27 2014: Maphou Primary Health Centre in Senapati district, around 25-km drive from the Capital which was set up with the sole objective to cater to the medical needs of the villagers of Maphou village has been lying defunct with its office closed for the last many months.

According to a villager of Maphou, the health centre was inaugurated by Yamthong Haokip, MLA Saikul Constituency in 2013.Since then villagers of Maphou and Island Block were able to get medical benefits from the centre, but its effectiveness proved short-lived as the centre stopped functioning barely a few months of its inauguration.

As deputed doctors and nurses did not attend the Centre regularly, it remained locked most of time.

Functioning of Maphou PHC comes to standstill

It is mandatory for every Primary Health Centre to provide services 24X7 and look after every villager at the time of medical attention in any given time, but Maphou PHC does not open its office not more than 12-hour a day, said the villager.

Such disparity in the health centre has led the villagers to reel under intense hardship at the time of seeking health care.

Maphou village is situated just 25-km away from Imphal.

Failure of the deputed doctors and nurses to attend regularly is unfortunate, he rued.

Saying that the villagers had repeatedly requested authorities concerned to make the PHC function effectively but no measure has been taken up to do the needful, the aggrieved villager lamented that the Health Directorate has also not shown keen interest in addressing the clarion call of the villagers.

If doctors and nurses fail to regularly attend health centres like Maphou PHC which is situated just 25 km away from the Capital, imagine what would be the condition of those PHCs in far flung areas, he pointed out.

Stating that the government should not remain as a silent spectator to such discrepancies in PHCs as health is something which cannot be compromised at any cost, he urged the Health Director and Health Minister to take up action against those doctors and nurses deputed to Maphou PHC for their negligence in performing their duties.

Meanwhile, MLA Yamthang Haokip went to Maphou PHC for inspection yesterday but found its office downed shutter.

Speaking to media persons in connection with his visit to the centre, MLA Yamthong Haokip said that the Maphou PHC was set up to avail required medical needs to the villagers of Maphou, while expressing discontentment over the negligence of doctors and nurses deputed to the centre.

Necessary action would be taken up against those negligent staff deputed to the health centre after consulting with the concerned authorities, he pledged.

The Minister then appealed to the medical staff concerned to kick the habit of showing reluctance in performing duties at PHCs situated in far-flung areas.