Health centre in Machil without proper staff; people suffer

Kupwara, Nov 4: The Health Centre located in Dappal village of Machil sector in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district has been grappling with the lack of staff and diagnostic facilities as a result of which a huge chunk of the population is suffering badly.

Locals said that though a health centre was established here long ago, the lack of staff and other facilities were giving a tough time to the locals.

“After repeated pleas to the successive dispensations, a health centre was sanctioned here but it has always remained understaffed due to which a population of over 3000 is suffering,” said a local, Gulzar Ahmad. “Since our village is several kilometers from the Primary Health Centre Duddi, the need of the hour is to develop infrastructure at Dappal Health Centre to lessen the miseries of the people.”

The residents said that during winters when the entire Machil witnesses 5 to 6 feet of snow, it becomes impossible for them to move out of their homes.

They said that reaching Machil had always been impossible and with this bizarre situation, several patients died in the past before they could reach Primary Health Centre Duddi.

Locals said that a gynaecologist should be kept available at Dappal so that women in the area would not face hardships further.

They said that the health centre was functioning in private accommodation because the concerned department had failed to construct a building for Health Centre Dappal.

The residents said that they brought this issue to the notice of the concerned officials numerous times but to no avail.

The residents have sought immediate intervention of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to redress their grievances so that they can heave a sigh of relief.