Padder health sub-centre lying defunct for months

Ranjit Thakur

Advertisement

Doda, November 30

Irked over the dysfunctional Government Health Sub-Centre, residents of Cheshoti village of Padder in the mountainous Kishtwar district have been facing a lot of hardships.

Situated around 50 km from the district headquarters, Cheshoti village is an area with 70 to 80 households with a single health sub-centre catering to the medical needs of the locals. Hari Singh, a local, said, “The Government Health Sub-Centre at Padder functions just for two months in a year i.e. during the Machail pilgrimage (July-August). There is no staff, facilities or medicines at the health centre.” “A week ago, my father fell ill and we didn’t find even a single person at the health centre. So, we travelled for 22 km on foot to reach the primary health centre at Atholi,” he added. Rakesh Kumar, another villager, said, “We haven’t seen any staff at the health centre since July. At times, villagers are forced to travel for 30 km on foot to buy a single tablet.”

Meanwhile, Atholi Block Medical Officer Dr Raj Kumar Sharma said, “Not only the sub-centre in Padder, but many others have been facing similar problems in the absence of staff. These health sub-centres have been working just to cater to the need of vaccinations.”

“Moreover, the auxiliary nurse midwife posted in Cheshoti village is on maternity leave of six months, but I have engaged locals at the two health centres,” he added.

For a population of 23,000, there are only two primary health centres in Padder, leaving a large number of people in snowbound areas without basic health facilities, an official alleged.