ANM runs Sarabha Nagar dispensary

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 24

Wild grass, hanging electricity wires, bathroom without taps, moisture-laden rooms and a single woman taking care of patients is the picture of government dispensary at Sarabha Nagar.

The auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM), Daljit Kaur, is the only woman, who is shouldering responsibilities of everyone at the Sarabha Nagar dispensary. She is a doctor, a pharmacist and an ANM too.

Last year, too, a Tribune team visited the Sarabha Nagar dispensary, but the things have only worsened within one year. The dispensary is without a doctor since 2015.

Mandeep Sandhu, the doctor in charge at the dispensary, was transferred to the Civil Hospital in 2015. And since then the post of doctor is lying vacant.

The only pharmacist retired in January this year and the Class IV employee also reached superannuation in December last year. Now, only a sweeper comes to sweep floors of the dispensary once in a day.

“Every day, three to four patients turn back as there is no doctor. I can give simple medication for cough, cold and fever, but not more than this,” said Daljit Kaur.

“I attend seven to10 patients on average per day. No doctor is being posted here. Things are going on like this for the past two years,” she added.

“The retirement of pharmacist has also added to my work load. A pharmacist from Karnail dispensary came here on deputation for a few days. Later, the department cancelled all deputations and she stopped coming,” she said.

“Now, I have to bring stock of medicines also. In between all this, my own work gets affected. I am left with no time to go to the field. I have to encourage women for institutional deliveries, check immunisation record of children and make the people aware of seasonal diseases,” she added.

On taking a round of the dispensary one can see wild grass in the backyard. Inside the dispensary there are posters creating awareness on dengue. Just a few steps away tall wild grass growing in the backyard is an open invitation to mosquito breeding.

“I pay from my own pocket to get the grass cleared.

Wires are hanging in the porch. A few days after the rain, water started leaking from the ceiling and wires got uprooted from the wall. There is no electricity in this portion,” said Daljit Kaur.

“Besides, all taps from the bathroom have been stolen. I even lodged a complaint at the police station and with the department, but nothing has been done in this regard,” she added.

The dispensary is located inside the residential colony of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited. The main aim of the dispensary is to facilitate residents of the colony, but they have to return disappointed.

Neither do they get medical facilities nor any medical certificates. Residents cannot even get any forms attested from here. Left with no other option they have to either go to the Civil Hospital or a private practitioner.

Wednesday being the day for vaccination Daljit Kaur was busy vaccinating children, checking their weight, instructing them to take healthy meals and go for de-worming regularly.