Heavy snow bound areas in Kupwara without gynecologist doctors

Kupwara, Dec 8: The people living in heavy snow bound areas in frontier district Kupwara have been suffering badly due to lack of gynecologist doctors in these areas thus exposing the tall claims of health department of improved health sector in rural areas.

The residents of heavy snowbound areas including Keran, Machil, Budnamal, Kumkadi, Jumagund, Moori and several other areas have been demanding posting of gynaecologist doctors in their areas so that they may not face hardships especially in winters when these areas remain cut off from district headquarters due to heavy snowfall.

They have shown strong resentment against authorities for failing to post gynaecologist doctors in these areas over the years, resulting in severe hardships to them.

The residents said that in fact the basic infrastructure was missing in the health centres located in heavy snow bound areas which happen to be in close proximity to the Line of Control (LoC).

The residents of Machil said that although a Primary Health Centre was established in the area but that doesn’t suffice the need of the locals with only few doctors posted here. “Whenever we approach concerned authorities for posting of a gynaecologist at PHC Dudi, we are being returned back by saying that the said PHC doesn’t have a gynaecologist post,” former sarpanch Habibullah told Greater Kashmir.

Similar voices echoed from the Keran area where residents said that the pregnant women of the area were suffering due to lack of gynaecologist doctor. “We have been demanding for the last many years to post a gynaecologist doctor at New Type Primary Health Centre (NTPHC) but to no avail,” said a local youth.

“During winters, whenever a medical emergency arises we are forced to carry patients on a makeshift cot to cover several kilometres on foot and then board vehicles near Ferkin Top and proceed further. During the previous winter several pregnant women after developing labour pain were airlifted by district administration to Kupwara but we want a permanent solution to our problem,” he added.

The residents of these areas have demanded posting of gynaecologist doctors at the earliest. “Let authorities depute gynaecologist doctors for few days a week in these heavy snowbound areas. It will certainly lessen the miseries and hardships faced by people” they added.

Meanwhile Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Kupwara Dr Mohammad Ramzan while talking to Greater Kashmir acknowledged the hardships being faced by the people of heavy snow bound areas in absence of gynaecologists. "We have taken up the issue with the higher ups and most importantly the concerned MLAs are very serious about this issue and they have taken up the issue with the Health Minister. Hopefully some concrete development will emerge in this regard soon," he added.