July 16
A public Health centre at Wachi area of South Kashmir’s Shopian which lacks basic facilities and staff even after 6 years of its establishment.
The residents told The Kashmiriyat that the non availability of the facilities at the centre is compelling patients to reach district or sub district hospitals.
According to locals, the PHC was established in year 2013 and work on building was started in the same year however the building still awaits for completion as work on the hospital building is going at snails pace.
Due to non availability of building, PHC is functioning in a rented four roomed house however at this PHC staff comprises of just a Pharmacist and one FMPHW, said a local Manzoor Ahmed.
Even for a tablet we have to visit sub district hospital Zainapora or sub district hospital Bijbehara, he told The Kashmiriyat.
Due to the lack of basic facilities the health care has failed to cater a huge depending population of villages like watchi, Dar Bagh, Zahidbagh, Melhoora, Wanduna and its adjoining areas.
The centre has become redundant due to lack of infrastructure, staff and medicines, said a local shopkeeper Shaheen Ahmed.
There should be proper medical supplies and staff members available at the centre, Shaheen said while adding that at least a doctor, basic aid and medicine should be available.
Residents told The Kashmiriyat that they visited the offices of government incumbents so many times but nothing went in our favour.
They once again appealed the government and concerned authorities to look into the matter so that local patients will not suffer further.
The Chief Medical officer of Shopian Abdul Rashid upon being contacted by The Kashmiriyat said that lack of space is the reason behind the poor facilities at the centre.
“We are taking every possible step to complete under construction building as soon as possible so that patients will not suffer more,” he said.