Locals demand availability of pediatricians at SDH Uri for entire week

Srinagar, Nov 27: Inhabitants of border town Uri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district have demanded the availability of pediatrician doctors at Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Uri for the entire week.

A delegation of locals told Greater Kashmir that they were suffering because of the lack of pediatricians round the week.

“A pediatrician consultant from Anantnag comes to SDH Uri on every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday only. Another doctor who was originally posted at SDH Sopore has been attached to Uri hospital but he is available only for  Saturday. But on other days of the week, no pediatrician is available at the hospital,” said Mukhtar Ahmad, a local of Garkote village.

He said that his daughter fell ill last week on Friday. “On visiting SDH Uri, no pediatrician was available there. I had to then consult a physician whose given medicine was of no use till now.”

“Today, I went to the hospital again in the afternoon to consult a pediatrician but I was told that the doctor has left early,” he said.

Bashir Ahmad Bhat, a local, said that his brother’s son had fallen ill a few days back. “We took him to SDH Uri in the mid-night but no pediatrician was available there,” he said.

He said that they demand more pediatrician doctors be posted in this hospital. “It is unfortunate that local authorities are not presenting the correct situation of our hospitals to the higher ups, otherwise they would put the efforts to improve its healthcare,” he said.

Locals said that they are forced to travel to Srinagar and Baramulla hospitals on a daily basis for the basic check-up of their kids.

“Being a border area, the healthcare is severely affected here due to  the non-serious attitude in appointing the children specialists here,” they said.

Dr Balwinder Singh, BMO Uri said that he has taken up the issue with the higher ups. “They have assured that all the vacant posts will be filled,” he said.

CMO Baramulla Dr Bashir Ahmad told Greater Kashmir that they had a meeting in the directorate office recently on the issue. “I am sure they will send a doctor soon,” he said.