By Paritosh Chakma
THE LONE Primary Health Centre in the
entire Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) in southern Mizoram is lying
non-functional for the last 20 years without officials or politicians being
bothered about it. The said PHC is located at Borapansury, a border town
situated on the India-Bangladesh border, under CADC in Lawngtlai district of
Mizoram.
In the entire Chakma Autonomous District
Council, created under 6th schedule to the Constitution of India in 1972, there
is only one Community Health Centre located at headquarter Kamala Nagar and one
defunct PHC at Borapansury, apart from a number of health sub centres to cater
to a population of over 40,000.
A villager from Borapansury told this
citizen journalist that the first PHC building was constructed two decades ago,
but the PHC was never operationalized. Instead of being a health centre, it was
used as shelter by cows and other animals until it dilapidated. A new building
was constructed sometime in 2010. Staff quarters have been built alongside the
PHC building. Yet, no doctor or staff has been posted as of date. There is also
no medicine.
Recently, Mizoram’s Minister of Health
and Family Welfare Lalrinliana Sailo confirmed in the Mizoram Assembly House
that no doctor is posted at Borapansury Primary Health Centre. However, he
failed to mention that just an empty building is continuing to exist as Primary
Health Centre on official papers.
“In the name of Primary Health Centre,
all we have is an empty building,” lamented a local while speaking to this
citizen journalist on the phone.
Many people, mostly the poorest, die in
this area of CADC each year due to lack of basic healthcare facilities.
Now, a social organization Mizoram
Chakma Development Forum (MCDF) has said, it will launch a campaign to make the
Borapansury PHC functional as soon as possible. On its Facebook page, it has
already announced, “MCDF will adopt a well-devised strategy to make the PHC
functioning with staff, doctors and medicines and other facilities which is
extremely important for the poor people in the area.”
Published in Merinews.com
4 comments:
I have just contacted the Hon'ble Health minister Mr. Lalrinliana Sailo regarding this post. It is the fact that there is no doctor in the said Borapansury PHC. During the previous MNF ministry it was reported that the Borapansury PHC has been constructed, however, the present health minister, while he was an opposition MLA visited the site in 2008. He again visited the village after becoming Mizoram Health Minsiter and he constructed the PHC building. Unfortunately, due to lack of manpower in the health department no doctor has been posted since 2009. The good thing is that at the recent high level meeting held at minister's chamber on 26.07.2012, it was decided that the Borapansury PHC has to be handed over to the Chakma Autonomous District Council. The decision has been informed to the concern MLA Mr. Nirupam Chakma.
I have just contacted the Hon'ble Health minister Mr. Lalrinliana Sailo regarding this post. It is the fact that there is no doctor in the said Borapansury PHC. During the previous MNF ministry it was reported that the Borapansury PHC has been constructed, however, the present health minister, while he was an opposition MLA visited the site in 2008. He again visited the village after becoming Mizoram Health Minsiter and he constructed the PHC building. Unfortunately, due to lack of manpower in the health department no doctor has been posted since 2009. The good thing is that at the recent high level meeting held at minister's chamber on 26.07.2012, it was decided that the Borapansury PHC has to be handed over to the Chakma Autonomous District Council. The decision has been informed to the concern MLA Mr. Nirupam Chakma.
Thank you Joseph Ralte, you have done a wonderful job. Very grateful to u.
The fact that this PHC has been non-functional for the last 20 (TWENTY) years is a sad reminder of our policies or inability to implement our schemes.
Let us hope that this PHC becomes operationalize within two or three months. How long will the people suffer and die in absolute absence of basic necessities?
Kindly sign a petition created on this subject at:
http://www.change.org/en-IN/petitions/health-minister-mizoram-appoint-doctors-and-staff-at-borapunsary-phc
Chakhang PHC and Phura PHC in Saiha district also do not have doctors till today and they are not operational. The excuse often made is that doctors do not wish to apply for the posts in rural areas of Mizoram. They prefer to stay in towns and cities. If Mr. Joseph Ralte can enlighten us on the problem face by the two towns, I will highly appreciate it. Thanks.
Post a Comment