All is not well with this medical unit in Raipur Khurd

Mohit Khanna

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 5

The Alternative Medical Unit (AMU) located in Raipur Khurd is operating from a panchayat building where marriages and religious functions are a routine.

Amidst “band, baaja, baarat”, patients could be seen making a beeline outside the doctor’s room.

“During any religious festival, the medical unit turns into a langar (community kitchen) hall. People can be seen partaking langar while seating in the medical unit,” said Suraj, who lives in the neighbourhood of the panchayat building.

The medical staff complained that during the festival and marriage season, it gets difficult to attend to patients.

“Just imagine, people are dancing to loud DJ music and a patient is maneuvering though them to get treatment. It is a common sight at this medical unit,” said one of the medical staff.

The village has a population of over 10,000. Out of this, 80 per cent constitutes migrant labourers.

Medical officer Nirbhai Singh said the AMU had been operating from the panchayat building since 2011. Besides Raipur Khurd, residents of nearby villages, including Makhan Majra, also visit the medical unit for check-up. The AMU records an OPD of 60 patients every day.

There is a shortage of space. Only three rooms have been allotted to the AMU, while several requests for renovation of the AMU and increasing the number of rooms have fallen on deaf ears of the authorities concerned.

DOTS treatment for tuberculosis (TB) patients is being run in the same room where auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM) is carrying out immunisation programme for children and holding check-up of pregnant women. “Coming in contact with a positive TB patient could expose both mother and child to infection,” said an area resident.

Sources said recently the Health Department had planned to move the dispensary to a sampark centre of a government school. As the sampark centre is located outside the village, residents are averse to the move.

“During the wedding season or religious festivals, one cannot step in the village. Leftovers and food items are scattered everywhere and we have to clean it,” said one of medical staff.

The AMU has a common toilet which is in an unhygienic condition.

Despite repeated attempts, Dr G Dewan, Director Health, was not available for comments.