Lying in oblivion, this dispensary needs to shift base

Manav Mander

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Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 16

With no board outside, one hardly gets to know about the existence of a government dispensary at Model Gram housed in a small room at Krishna Charitable Hospital.

Only a poster giving information about the vaccination of kids is a reference to its mere existence.

Literally standing in oblivion, the dispensary is mislocated at the first place, as it was meant to cater to residents of Model Gram and its adjoining areas, but is located in Model Town, where an Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) is already located that, too, at a distance of less than a kilometre.

One really wonders about its need in the area when a UPHC is already there.

Meant to cater to areas including Kartar Nagar, Atam Nagar, Jawahar Nagar camp, Labour Colony, Lajpat Nagar, Sampuran Colony, New Model Town and Model Town extension, the staff have to commute to these areas covering long distance to hold outreach camps and to give polio drops to children during pulse-polio drives.

When Ludhiana Tribune team reached the dispensary around 10:30 am, an auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM) was sitting in the dispensary and working on her register.

When we enquired about the doctor, she said he had gone for a school health programme for observing National Dengue Day. We further enquired if any nurse was there, who could help us, she said no nurse was posted here.

A nurse was posted at this dispensary several years ago, but after she was shifted to the Civil Hospital, the post was never filled.

The doctor posted here also takes care of the school health programmes and visits different government schools imparting knowledge about various diseases related to kids.

“I generally come to this dispensary to get my kids vaccinated. Today, I came to see the doctor myself as I was suffering from fever and thought will have prescription from him, but the doctor is not present. I went to the nearby UPHC, Model Town, but no doctor was available there as well. Now, left with no other option, I will have to visit a private doctor and shell out more money,” said Savitri Devi, a patient.

Since the Urban Primary Health Centre is located nearby, most of the patients prefer going there.

Others people come here only to get their kids vaccinated.

Officialspeak

I agree that the dispensary is mislocated. Since the UPHC is located nearby, there is no need for a dispensary here and I have already planned to shift it to Jawahar Nagar camp. We have finalised the place and it will be shifted within a few days. —Dr Renu Chhatwal, civil surgeon

Residentspeak

I generally come to this dispensary to get my kids vaccinated. Today, I came to see the doctor myself as I was suffering from fever and thought will have prescription from him, but the doctor is not present. I went to the nearby UPHC, Model Town, but no doctor was available there as well. Now, left with no other option, I will have to visit a private doctor and shell out more money —Savitri Devi, a patient