Kundapur: Lack of Facilities Plagues Taluk General Hospital, Primary Health Centres
 
By Aishwarya Beejady
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (RD/CN)
 
Kundapur, Aug 17: The taluk has a total of 103 villages governed by 56 gram panchayats and a majority of health centres have no permanent medical officers, due to which the rural people are not able to avail state-run health benefits.To add to their woes, the buildings of the majority of Primary Health Centres (PHCs) are in a deplorable condition. The state of buildings that house the sub-centres is a little better.

Due to state apathy, people residing at the foothills of the Western Ghats in the taluk have to go to health clinics located in far-flung cities and towns. A PHC that is located in Siddapura town, near here, has had no doctors for many years. It’s the same state of affairs in the fast growing rural trade centre of Belve. The taluk health department had to depute doctors on a rota basis at various PHCs. Patients have to wait for the doctors at different PHCs.

The demand to upgrade Siddapura PHC has fallen on the deaf ears of the taluk health department. Although three regular doctors have been allotted for Siddapura PHC, none of them have been appointed so far.
 

Byndoor PHC upgraded
 
The taluk has 23 PHCs of which only Byndoor PHC has been upgraded to a 30-bed community health centre. However, a lone doctor is in service at this health centre. The demand for more doctors has still not been approved and the only doctor is overburdened. A minimum of four deliveries take place at the PHC in a month. Due to discontinuing of the 24x7 services at PHC, people residing in the limits of Kollur, Siddapur and Kandlur PHCs are severely affected.
 
This service has been operational only at the PHCs in Shankaranarayana and Belve. The mobile health unit that was introduced in the naxal-affected villages is effectively serving the people. It functions in six sub-centres under Belve and Halady PHCs and costs the department Rs 1 lac. Meanwhile, 108 sub-centres are functioning to support 23 PHCs. Of the 108 sub-centres, only 55 are housed in buildings.

Despite the construction of buildings for sub-centres at Golihole, Tombattu, and Ampar being completed, it’s yet to be operational. Hattikudru village is an island that comes under the limits of Basroor PHC in the taluk. Their demand for a sub-centre has not been realized by the taluk department. A young medical officer, Dr Ashok, due to his dedication to his profession, pays a weekly visit to Hattikudru and attends to the patients.
 
The taluk General Hospital earned a reputation due to expert medical officers. Udupi-based T Shankar Family Trust had donated a delivery ward to the hospital. It has a state-of-the-art laboratory and laundry facility. Despite the hospital having surgeons, it faces a shortage of ‘Group D’ staff, which has affected the service at the hospital.
 
A PHC that was inaugurated by local MLA at Hattiyangady has ceased to function in spite of the opposition of the locals. There is no regular doctor at the PHC located in the naxal-affected village of Hallihole. There are three sub-centres located under Hallihole PHC, where the nurses’ vacancy remains unfilled. Although the state ambulance service 108 is available at PHC, the department has not provided an ambulance.
 
Dr Ram Rao, Kundapur taluk health officer: The PHCs and sub-centres in a few areas are not conveniently located. Many centres have no water supply. The local administration has to act on this issue. The state has to begin the process of approving doctors through counselling. It’s owing to the efforts of doctors and health assistants, H1N1 cases are not detected in the taluk. Our efforts go as far as we could make the best of available facilities.
 

Dr Udaya Shankar, Kundapur General Hospital: The state has been granting Rs 23 lac to manage Kundapur General Hospital. In the current situation, three times of that grant is essential to maintain all facilities at the hospital. The shortfall is adjusted with the contributions that are pooled by the health committee. A memorandum has been presented to the DC seeking more finances. The delay in approving ‘Group D’ employees has been a major issue that has been affecting the service at the hospital. The shortage of ‘Group D’ employees arose following retirement of five staff members. The state has to take note of this. The hospital has an inpatient and outpatient ward, delivery ward, x-ray, laboratory, etc. If ‘Group D’ employees are appointed at the earliest, it will benefit the patient and doctors alike.
 
 
Prakash Pai, Siddapura: Siddapura PHC has had no doctor for many months now and the locals are affected by this. The people residing in remote villages such as Yadamoge, Shettipalu, and neighbouring areas depend on this PHC. They had to go to Kundapur for medical treatment.