Malaibari Mini Primary Health Centre: No Ambulance, No Emergency Service!

Our Correspondent

DIMORIA: Inaugurated way back in 1989, the Malaibari Mini Primary Health Centre (PHC) has been making do without any ambulance, emergency service and night surgery. The mini PHC falls under Dispur LAC (Legislative Assembly Constituency).

The health centre has only one ambulance that has been lying out of order for two years. This being the summer, people often fall ill and face problem due to the plight of the mini PHC. In emergency cases, the residents of the area have to face problems.

The doctors and other staff of the mini PHC should be on duty from 8.30 am. However, there are allegations that they often come to their duty much late. The mini PHC has two doctors, a CHO (community health officer), a laboratory technician, three nurses and two chowkidars.

On Sunday the hospital remains closed even as it should remain open for emergency service. The mini PHC has quarters for doctors and other staff, but none of them stay there because of its plight. Strangely enough, the mini PHC has no water connection. It has to collect water from the nearby houses.

The mini PHC also has an operation theatre, but surgery at night is not possible. It has been recognized as a pregnancy point, but women are not getting all such facilities as the recognition suggests. They have to go to the Sonapur District Hospital located some 15 km away.

When contacted by this correspondent, Health Officer Dr. Naren Gurung said: “I’ve informed the higher-ups of the out of order ambulance. During emergency patients avail the 102 and 108 ambulance services.” When asked as to why the emergency service at the mini PHC remains closed on Sunday, Dr. Gurung said: “The centre doesn’t have any emergency service. Doctors don’t go for duty to the centre on Sunday.” The affected people of the locality have sought the intervention of the government into the plight of the mini PHC.

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