Locals demand additional ambulances at SDH Uri

Uri, Oct 12: Residents of the border town Uri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district have called for an increase in the number of ambulances at Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Uri.

A delegation of locals informed Greater Kashmir that currently, five ambulances are assigned to the medical block Uri: four are stationed at SDH Uri, and one at NTPHC Kamalkote.

Locals from various villages expressed their hardships due to the ambulance shortage. “The lack of ambulances is causing difficulties for doctors in referring patients,” said Bashir Bhat, a resident of Garkote village.

He emphasized the urgent need for additional ambulances, particularly because many villages in Uri are situated in hilly terrain.

“These areas are close to the Line of Control (LoC) and are prone to serious accidents. We often experience road accidents and wild animal attacks,” he explained.

Another resident, Abrar Ahmad, noted that the medical block Uri encompasses nearly 40 health centers, many of which are located in remote villages.

“Most villages in Uri require ambulances, as it takes hours to reach them with medical assistance. The existing five ambulances serve over a hundred villages,” he said.

It is important to mention that in February 2023, the health department scrapped several condemned ambulances in Uri, including those from PHC Mohra, NTPHC Garkote, NTPHC Nambla, and NTPHC Isham, among others.

However, Dr Balwinder Singh, Block Medical Officer (BMO) Uri, told Greater Kashmir that he has already raised this issue with higher authorities. “They have assured me that they will address this grievance,” he added.