Srinagar, May 31: Asserting that more needs to be done for improving pediatric and maternity healthcare in the Valley, the civil society and medicos on Thursday said while augmenting such facilities in the city is a welcome step, it won’t end the problem unless peripheral health infrastructure is upgraded.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, former president of Federation of Chamber and Industries Kashmir (FCIK), Syed Shakeel Qalandar said the situation vis-à-vis child healthcare is worrisome and some immediate steps need to be taken to check the alarmingly high infant mortality rate.
“Construction of new hospitals in the city is a welcome step. We should, at the same time, explore some viable alternatives like effectively using the available infrastructure,” he said.
Qalandar said the government can also use existing charity healthcare institutions for providing pediatric and maternity healthcare facilities.
He added that there is need for setting up of such hospitals in nook and corner of the Valley to provide treatment to patients at their doorstep and curtailing heavy patient influx at the referrals.
“While devising plans, government should give priority to these two sectors – infant and maternal healthcare,” he added.
Noted medico and chairman, Voluntary Health Association of India, Prof GQ Allaqaband termed the proposal of new hospitals as a welcome step towards upgradation of healthcare in Kashmir. “It was an urgent requirement as people were suffering due to huge rush at lone maternity and childcare hospital here,” he said.
However, Dr Allaqaband expressed certain apprehensions over the completion of the project. “This project shouldn’t face the same fate as other development projects like flyovers and bridges face in Kashmir due to lopsided planning,” he said.
Dr Allaqaband said the government should take up this project on war-footing otherwise it would be wastage of money and time.
President of Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) Nissar-ul-Hassan told Greater Kashmir that “it makes no sense to have another maternity and childcare hospital in City”.
“Our healthcare system in peripheral areas is in shambles and having another pediatric and maternity hospital in the city will not reduce the mortality rate,” he said
Hassan said there is dire need of having full-fledged tertiary-care pediatric and maternity hospitals in north and south Kashmir “as most of the deaths are caused by consumption of time in rushing patients to city from rural areas.”
Member of Civil Society Forum, Omer Tramboo said: “It will definitely bring positive change in the child health scenario of J&K. I hope this visionary project will take its final shape.”
However, Tramboo said till the project is completed, the government should take all necessary steps to upgrade GB Pant Hospital.
Chairman of Nagin Lake Conservation Organization (NLCO) Manzoor Ahmad Wangnoo, said the construction of new hospitals is indeed a  positive step towards improving  “ailing” health sector.
“There is need of setting up these health centers in districts keeping in view distance and frequent traffic jams in mind,” he said, adding that there should be proper monitoring and supervision of these institutions.
“Child healthcare is more important than anything else for our Valley,” he added.
Wangnoo said that at a recent meeting of the CM with civil society here he (Wangnoo) had suggested constructing a new pediatric hospital at Bemina.
Dr Rouf Mohiuddin, who has filed Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in High Court over more than 380 tragic deaths of infants at GB Pant Hospital, said the rural infrastructure should be upgraded immediately to control infant and maternal deaths.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 31 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 31 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 1 Jun 2012 00:00:00 IST