Pulwama, Jan 17: The work on the New Type Primary Health Centre, Rahmoo in this south Kashmir’s Pulwama district is incomplete for nearly two decades, taking a heavy toll on the patient care for several villages.
Rahmoo occupies a central position and is one of the densely populated villages of Pulwama. The residents said the work on the health centre was started in 2004, and since then the two-storey building has been under construction.
“The PHC faces official neglect despite catering to health issues of around 30,000 people from Rahmoo and 21 neighbouring villages which include Zaegham, Shal-e-Takee, Mitrigam, Putrigam, Fresipora, Gusoo, Tujan, Thokerpora, Mirgund, Tel-e-Sura and Akhaal,” Sheikh Rayeees, Chairman Rahmoo Public Interest, a voluntary youth group raising public issues of the village, told Rising Kashmir.
Rayees said the upper storey of the main NTPHC building is in shambles. “The rooms in the second storey are without ceilings. There are no doors; the walls are shabby and the floor is littered with dust, dirt and bird popping,” he said, adding that the rooms on the ground floor fall short to accommodate various sections and patients.
He said the patient admit ward can accommodate two beds only, and in summer, the health centre receives around 10 patients a day and they are accommodated in the corridor due to the shortage of space.
“It also lacks a proper electricity supply. The locals have made a temporary arrangement for electricity supply,” Rayees said.
There are two other buildings associated with the PHC – a three-storey building (for the residential quarter of doctors) and a single-storey building (for the residential quarter of paramedical staff).
“These two buildings are also under construction and work on them has been stopped since 2015,” a local said, adding, “The health centre lacks basic infrastructure. There are no USG and X-Ray facilities.”
The residents said the building was handed over to the Health Department by the Jammu and Kashmir Public Construction Corporation Limited (JKPCC Ltd) on 28 November 2015. The handover and takeover was executed by the then BMO Pulwama and Manager JKPCC Ltd, they said.
The PHC Rahmoo now falls under the Rajpora medical block.
Block Medical Officer Rajpora, Dr Javid, told Rising Kashmir that he is unaware of the handover of the NTPHC. When asked about the construction of the health centre, he said a Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been submitted for the balance work.
“Since there was a revision of rates, a revised DPR has been submitted before higher authorities for approval,” he said, adding, “I am hopeful that it will be approved soon.”
“PHC Rahmoo is among my priorities and I will do my best to provide the best possible facilities to the residents of the area,” Dr Javid added.
Directorate of Health Services Kashmir spokesperson Dr Mir Mushtaq said he needs to peruse the DPR before making any comment.
