Srinagar, Nov 27: Amid bone-chilling cold, the Primary Health Center (PHC) Maharaj Gunj is functioning from makeshift sheds as authorities are sitting on its completion.
The locals say that the PHC Maharaj Gunj, which has over 20 Sub-centers under its jurisdiction, is one of the principal PHCs in Downtown. They said in early 2018, the PHC was shifted to a nearby public park as the original building was demolished for reconstruction. Since then the PHC is functioning from a few sheds at a nearby park with no basic facility like parking.
“Around five lakh population is dependent on the PHC which is operating from makeshift sheds. People will not prefer to go to the makeshift PHC amid cold. Recently I had a patient in my family and I preferred to visit SMHS rather than there. Due to space crunch, many health facilities are affected and doctors are not able to work properly,” said Farooq Ahmed, a local.
“It also increased the load on SMHS when people are forced to avoid this makeshift PHC. As the PHC is a major patient care facility in Downtown, it should not be lingering for so many years,” he said.
The traders in the area said that as responsible citizens, they have been following the issue for years “but the administration is showing least interest in completion of the PHC.”
“The authorities have been passing the buck on each other. They are sighting budgetary, technical, and approval issues while the people on the ground are suffering. We visited several officers of the district administration and R&B but so far nothing has been done. The base of the building was constructed long back but since then there is no progress,” said Ayaz Zahgeer, Chief organizer, Beopar Mandal Maharaj Gunj.
Shafqat Ahmed, Zonal Medical Officer said that amid the space crunch, they have to operate 3 sections from one room.
“Despite having state of art equipment, we are unable to use it due to space crunch. My sampling center and ward are in the same room which has little space. Our Ophthalmology and ultrasound facilities are operating from a mini room of makeshift kiosk. Now as winter has arrived these issues are increasing. Recently we received a digital x-ray machine and due to lack of space, we had to divert it. These things are affecting patient care,” Ahmed said.
Superintending Engineer R&B, Qayoom Kirmani said that they have finalized the DPR and other formalities months back “but are awaiting administration approval.”
“We are just awaiting administration approval and once we get the nod at the district administration level, we will start the work,” Kirmani said.