No such issue, SDH running smoothly: Official

Handwara: Residents of various villages of Langate town of North Kashmir’s Handwara Sunday complained that the X-Ray and Electrocardiography (ECG) have been defunct at Sub District Hospital for most of the times causing inconvenience to a large number of people.

According to the locals, they are forced to visit other hospitals to get these facilities despite having better infrastructure at the SD hospital.

Locals said that the since the hospital was given SDH status they were expecting it will provide them the facilities so that they won’t be forced to visit hospitals far away from their areas.

Locals further said that they have to go for the District Hospital Handwara most of the times to avail these health facilities.

Nazir Ahmad, a local resident said that the hospital makes good revenue and large population of the area is dependent over this hospital but unfortunately the machinery remains defunct and thus leaving the commoners to suffer.

Similar reports were also received from Qaziabad Ashpora where people complained about basic facilities at New Type Primary Health Centre (NTPHC).

The residents said the hospital lacks basic facilities and it is NTPHC only on papers only. They complained that the hospital is having shortage of equipments and staff as well due to which the people of the area face hardships.

Khazir Mohammad, a local resident of Ashpora said that they have notified the concern officials several times but every time they were assured but till date nothing has been done to provide the facilities to this hospital.

The people of the areas have urged authorities to look in to the matter and provide all the basic facilities to these hospitals so that people will not face the hardships amid cold weather.

Talking to Rising Kashmir, Block Medical Officer (BMO) Langate refuted the allegations of the locals and said that the machinery at SDH Langate is functioning smoothly. He further said that they have asked higher authorities to provide Digital X-Ray machine for the hospital. "I don’t know why people are complaining when everything is normal," he said.

On being asked about NTPHC center Ashpora Qaziabad, he said that a lady has been sent to hospital who will took charge from today, adding that, "if there are any other problems he will look into in to it."