Ajas villagers in Bandipora demand trauma hospital

Bandipora, Nov 11: Ajas villagers in north Kashmir's Bandipora district have been demanding a trauma hospital, but their request seems to be stuck in bureaucratic red tape, locals say.

The villagers had made several representations to the administration, asking for the upgrade of the New Type Primary Health Centre (NTPHC) in their village to a Community Health Centre (CHC) or a separate medical block. However, nothing has materialised in this regard.

In 2022, they made a final plea for a trauma hospital, given the "accident-prone nature" of the Gurez-Bandipora, Srinagar, road that passes through their village.
They argued that a trauma hospital in their village would be a strategic location for providing emergency care and saving precious time in shifting the patients to Srinagar, which is several kilometers away.
Their plea, locals said, was endorsed by the Deputy Commissioner and the Chief Medical Officer, who forwarded it to the Director of Health Services Kashmir (DHSK) for checking the feasibility of constructing the trauma hospital.

However, the planning section of the health department "sent back the letter, asking the CMO and the Block Medical Officer (BMO) to submit the details in accordance with the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) guidelines," Ghulam Mohiuddin Rather, secretary of the Tehsil Welfare Committee (TWC) Ajas, said.
Since then, the villagers have not received any clear response from the authorities, Rather claimed.

He said the CMO and the BMO are not showing any "seriousness in filing" the details as per the requested guidelines.
The villagers said that the NTPHC and the village have sufficient land for the construction of the trauma hospital.

Rather said that the hospital would not only cater to emergencies but also benefit the population of many rural villages in terms of health facilities. He lamented that the present condition of the NTPHC has remained unchanged and is akin to a dispensary that was there years ago.

He said that even though doctors are occasionally present, the villagers have to travel to Hajin CHC, Sumbal, or Bandipora to seek treatment even for minor ailments. The Chief Medical Officer, Dr Rafi Ahmad Salati, said he has no knowledge that the DHSK has recommended they file the details anew with IPHC guidelines.

"The ones which I sent haven't been returned," Salati told Greater Kashmir. He said in case the locals have any apprehension or if the DHSK has returned it, he will check it accordingly and look into the matter.