Residents rue availability of USG facility at SDH Uri for limited days

Uri, June 8:  Inhabitants of border town Uri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district have expressed their resentment against health authorities for failing to keep ultrasonography (USG) facility operational throughout the week at Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Uri.

Currently, USG is performed once a week at the hospital and once a week at PHC Mohra, located approximately 12 kilometers away from the main town. A medical officer, trained by the health authorities and posted at SDH Uri is responsible for conducting the USG at both locations.

With the limited availability, locals are forced to travel to the hospitals in Baramulla or Srinagar to get USG done, which could otherwise be performed locally at a minimal cost.

A delegation of locals told Greater Kashmir that they are facing several hardships due to the closure of the USG facility for six days a week at the hospital.

“Children, elderly people and especially pregnant women are suffering in the absence of regular facilities. We demand that the facility be made functional for the entire week at the hospital,” said Shafiq Ahmad, a resident of main town Uri.

Another local, Tanveer Ahmad, mentioned that whenever they visit the hospital, they find the USG room locked.

“Given this area’s proximity to the LoC, the hospital should have all the facilities available. Unfortunately, these issues are not being addressed. I have failed to understand why the government has not appointed a permanent doctor for this post at the hospital,” he questioned.

“Pregnant women are the worst sufferers. They have to travel to Baramulla or Srinagar hospitals to get the USG done. We are poor people and can’t afford so much travel every day,” said Hafeeza Begum, a local of Garkote village.

They have appealed to Administrative Secretary Health & Medical Education Department J&K and Director Health Services Kashmir to address the issue on priority.

The 60-bedded hospital caters to a population of 1.3 lakh from over 100 villages and also several villages along the LoC including Charunda, Hathlanga, Kamalkote, Mothal, and Sourha. Located a few kilometres away from the LoC, SDH Uri has also been attending the cases of cross-border shelling and landmine victims.

Dr Balwinder Singh, Block Medical Officer (BMO) Uri, said that he has already taken up this issue with the higher authorities. “They have assured me that it will be addressed in the coming days,” he said. Dr Mastoora Akhter, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Baramulla, said she will look into the matter.