PHC Wadipora lacks staff, proper diagnostic facilities

Kupwara, Aug 18: Residents of Wadipora and its adjacent villages in north Kashmirs' Kupwara district have shown strong resentment against authorities for lack of adequate staff and better diagnostic facilities at Primary Health Centre (PHC) Wadipora thus making the locals suffer.

The residents said that the hospital was established several years ago but it has never been a priority for authorities. They said that the health centre lacks better facilities  forcing locals to look for other alternatives with regard to their treatment.

The failure of the department to provide better diagnostic facilities at Primary Health Centre (PHC) Wadipora has also left the locals anguished.

They said that a manual X-ray plant and an ECG machine were available in the hospital but they did not fulfill the purpose. They said that installation of a digital X-ray machine was necessary so that the patients were not forced to move to Handwara for the want of the same.

The residents said that the hospital was functioning without the services of an ambulance which really tells upon the smooth functioning of the hospital.

Residents also complained about the lack of a dental surgeon here. They said that a few years ago after the dental surgeon was transferred to Director Health Services Kashmir, his replacement was yet to be made.

Pregnancy care has also been hit badly due to non-availability of a specialised gynecologist here with the result women of the area face severe hardships and they are forced to visit District Hospital Handwara for treatment.

Shakir Ahmad a local youth told Greater Kashmir that he along with the locals have brought these grievances into the notice of concerned officials numerous times but nothing concrete has been done in this regard so far.

Block Medical Officer (BMO) Zachaldara Dr Abdul Gani said that the whole Zachaladara medical block has dearth of employees still they have deputed substantial staff at PHC Wadipora.

He said that Wadipora PHC has been aligned with Government Medical College Handwara and hopefully it will be developed as a model hospital besides substantial staff would be posted here.