Srinagar, June 06: The healthcare facilities especially maternity services at Community Health Centre (CHC) Dawar, Gurez in Bandipora district have been affected due to the non-availability of gynaecologist leaving the expecting mothers to suffer.
Notably, Gurez is 72 kilometers away from Bandipora and 128 kilometers from Srinagar and the place remains cut off in winter months due to heavy snowfall.
Irshad Sammon, a resident of Gurez said no permanent gynaecologist has been posted in the valley over the past more than ten years leaving the pregnant women to suffer.
“There is no gynaecologist at the lone SDH Hospital and no one is willing to come and serve here. Last year, we highlighted the issue and one gynaecologist was posted here on rotation basis but that has also been stopped leaving the women to suffer,” he said.
In November last year, Director Health Services Kashmir after 11 years had ordered deputation of eight gynaecologists in Gurez but the orders as per residents have remained on papers only.
Irshad said that the pregnant women are compelled to move to Bandipora and Srinagar hospitals for treatment which is unaffordable for poor patients.
“During winter months the attendants of pregnant women have to shift to Srinagar and Bandipora and take rented rooms for their stay until delivery,” the resident said. “The concerned officers and officials are helpless and aren’t taking the matter seriously,” he said.
The residents said they had also written many times to the Administrative Secretary, Health and Medical Education (H&ME) Department, Bhupinder Kumar and other concerned authorities but nothing has been done.
Arshid Ahmad, another resident said they have flagged this matter for a long time and this is a grave issue people suffer in Gurez valley.
“Gurez has a population of 40,000 souls and there is no gynaecologist. The basic maternity services aren’t there, unfortunately. We have been neglected for a decade,” he said.
The problems worsen during winter as transportation facilities get affected and airlifting patients at critical stages becomes difficult for authorities. “Patients can only be airlifted when weather remains favourable otherwise they have no way to get airlifted,” he said.
Although the doctors there handle pregnant ladies with the help of medical officers, in critical cases especially in winter, it leaves them helpless and patients suffer.
Other than the lone CHC, there are seven NTPHCs and 28 Sub Centres for primary healthcare services; however maternity services have remained affected.
Chief Medical Officer, Bandipora, Dr Rafi Ahmad said they have taken up the matter with the health department and they expect that the issue would be resolved in the coming days.
“There is no gynecologist this time at the CHC Dawar which is the major health facility there. It is in the process. The Directorate of Health Services Kashmir would post gynecologists there and there is vacancy. We are reminding the department,” he said.
