35 Sangrur villages join hands to seek emergency services

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, August 27

Residents of nearly 35 villages of the Sherpur area have formed the Sherpur Hospital Bachao Action Committee to press the government to restart emergency services at the local Community Health Centre (CHC), which were discontinued in 2009.

“All residents of these villages have joined the protest due to lack of health facilities in the area. Hundreds of persons have got their names listed to join the indefinite fast on a rotation basis till September 13. Though some days ago, the government deputed two doctors here after the start of the protest, four posts are still lying vacant,” said Sukhdev Badi of the Punjab Lokmanch.

Having failed to see any improvement in the functioning of the CHC, the villagers first held a protest in front of the centre from August 11 to 21 and later blocked all roads of Sherpur town on August 23. They then started the indefinite fast from August 24.

“In case of any emergency, area residents have to take their patients to Dhuri or Barnala. We will not call off our protest till the government fills all vacant posts at the CHC here and add more facilities,” said Harbans Singh Sherpura of Sikh Budhijivi Manch.

Sangrur Civil Surgeon Dr Arun Gupta said the emergency was closed due to the shortage of doctors, but efforts were on to restart it. “We have been trying to post more doctors there and hopefully the situation will improve soon,” he said.