Health care facilities elude Ukhrul hamlets
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 13 2015 : Even as Public Health Sub Centre (PHSC) buildings have been constructed for Patbung and Sorde villages located within Phungyar sub-division of Ukhrul district, the same buildings have been serving no purpose as they remain unutilized till date.

Talking to a team of visiting journalists, some Sorde villagers lamented that they have been relying on Phungyar CHC whose reliability is highly questionable.

Cultivation is the main occupation of Sorde villagers and they have to pay as much as Rs 2500 to hire a private vehicle and take a patient to Phungyar CHC over the highly dilapidated road.

Staff quarters of Sorde PHSC have already been constructed but the complex has been overgrown with bushes as they were not used for a protracted period.

Even though the newly constructed staff quarters are yet to be occupied, some of the walls have developed cracks which is a testimony of the utter negligence of the qualitative aspect.

Patbung PHSC building which remained unutilized for its intended purpose has been converted into class rooms, said Khunbu Hormi Keishing.

Although there is a PHC at Phungyar, the health centre does not have adequate number of doctors, nurses and equipment.

On account of unavailability or irregularity of power supply, the PHC's refrigerator is as good as dead, said Phungyar Town People Organisation Chairman Victor Monsang.

Although there should be at least five doctors and four nurses at the PHC, only two doctors and two nurses have been working at the PHC.

The chronic problems of potable water and electricity which have been dogging the PHC have been highlighted to the Chief Minister repeatedly but nothing has come out of the repeated appeals.

Victor appealed to the relevant departments to pay special attention to the miseries of people living in remote areas specially at times when they need medical attention.

Although Phungyar PHC has the capability of performing minor operations, there is no facility for child delivery.

As such, expecting mothers have been travelling up to Ukhrul district hospital.

The visiting journalists found that the Phungyar sub-division was totally unaware of the 102 Ambulance Service which was launched recently.

Even if a plan is quite impressive, it serves no purpose if the same plan cannot be executed effectively, said a local leader of Phungyar.

He also urged for revival of the State transport agency in the interest of people living in remote areas of the State.

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