Srinagar, Sep 21: The primary healthcare services in dozens of villages in Tangmarg and its adjoining villages continue to remain non-existent which is taking a toll on healthcare in these areas of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
The residents of these villages said they cannot afford to go to private hospitals and suffer due to the lack of primary health facilities.
Khaipora area, which is 10 kilometres away from Tangmarg, is bordered by 15 villages like Reshipora, Tantraypora, Haipra, Ichul, Dhridragar, Sawan and Madam where people say they are denied primary health facilities.
The maternity care in these villages has taken a hit, with pregnant mothers travelling longer distances to consult doctors and get back home dejected.
“Pregnant women have to go to Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Tangmarg in private vehicles as there is a dearth of ambulances. Nobody cares about them,” said Tanveer Ahmad, a resident of Khaipora. He said many villages don’t even have dispensaries, due to which patients suffer.
“SDH Tangmarg is already grappling with the manpower shortage despite receiving hundreds of patients in a day,” Ahmad said.
The residents said the patients, especially pregnant women, who visit the SDH from different areas of Tangmarg face immense inconveniences due to space constraints and the maternity building is still incomplete which under construction over the past several years.
On the other side, the Chandil Wanigam area, which has 11 villages, also faces primary healthcare issues. Although the area has road connectivity, it is without a hospital to cater to the healthcare needs of its population.
Ogmuna is yet another considerably big area in Karhama Tehsil of Tangmarg sub-division. Its adjoining villages like Bongam, Kechh, Karhama, Kharpora, Heeng, Wussan, and Soipora also have no primary healthcare facilities.
The residents of Lalpora in Kunzar Teshil said the area has more than 20,000 population and its neighbouring villages Manglora, Dhobiwan, Waripora, and Chichilora also lack a health centre. Though there is a PHC in Kunzer, it lacks several facilities, as per locals.
Another area, Kralweth, has around 10 adjoining villages but there is also no health centre affecting healthcare.
There are PHCs at Gulmarg, Baba Reshi, Gogaldor, Turkbatpore and Aboora but only two one each at Kunzer and in Mulgam are centrally located.
“Though all these PHCs have their particular importance, there is a dire need to establish more facilities to cater to people,” said Bashir Ahmad, from Baba Reshi.
The residents demand state-of-art upgradation in order to lower the burden on people who are bearing the brunt of lack of facilities.
On Baramulla-Baba Reshi NH 701, there are nearly a dozen villages including Nambalnar which remain disconnected during winter months and pregnant women suffer the most.
“In winter, the expecting mothers face transport issues as the area receives heavy snowfall,” said Ajaz Ahmad, a resident of Nambalnar village. “They have to travel to Tangmarg or SDH Kreeri which is very difficult. The government has forgotten us amid sufferings,” he said.
Similarly, in another area which is near Sranz Waterfall at Nagbal village, there are some 10 villages that also lack a PHC forcing patients to travel to SDH Chandoosa, SDH Kreeri, and SDH Tangmarg, which are located 20 kilometres away and pregnant women are the worst sufferers.
He said despite health being a priority sector, the health department has failed to ensure adequate investment in primary health which is their main domain.
Spokesperson Directorate of Health Services Kashmir, Dr Mir Mushtaq said the department follows Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) norms before sanctioning any health facility.
“Population is the major decider to sanction any health facility. If these villages fit the IPHS norms, the villagers should approach us. Then the directorate will examine the same and then a recommendation can be sent to the government,” he said.
The residents of these villages said they cannot afford to go to private hospitals and suffer due to the lack of primary health facilities.
Khaipora area, which is 10 kilometres away from Tangmarg, is bordered by 15 villages like Reshipora, Tantraypora, Haipra, Ichul, Dhridragar, Sawan and Madam where people say they are denied primary health facilities.
The maternity care in these villages has taken a hit, with pregnant mothers travelling longer distances to consult doctors and get back home dejected.
“Pregnant women have to go to Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Tangmarg in private vehicles as there is a dearth of ambulances. Nobody cares about them,” said Tanveer Ahmad, a resident of Khaipora. He said many villages don’t even have dispensaries, due to which patients suffer.
“SDH Tangmarg is already grappling with the manpower shortage despite receiving hundreds of patients in a day,” Ahmad said.
The residents said the patients, especially pregnant women, who visit the SDH from different areas of Tangmarg face immense inconveniences due to space constraints and the maternity building is still incomplete which under construction over the past several years.
On the other side, the Chandil Wanigam area, which has 11 villages, also faces primary healthcare issues. Although the area has road connectivity, it is without a hospital to cater to the healthcare needs of its population.
Ogmuna is yet another considerably big area in Karhama Tehsil of Tangmarg sub-division. Its adjoining villages like Bongam, Kechh, Karhama, Kharpora, Heeng, Wussan, and Soipora also have no primary healthcare facilities.
The residents of Lalpora in Kunzar Teshil said the area has more than 20,000 population and its neighbouring villages Manglora, Dhobiwan, Waripora, and Chichilora also lack a health centre. Though there is a PHC in Kunzer, it lacks several facilities, as per locals.
Another area, Kralweth, has around 10 adjoining villages but there is also no health centre affecting healthcare.
There are PHCs at Gulmarg, Baba Reshi, Gogaldor, Turkbatpore and Aboora but only two one each at Kunzer and in Mulgam are centrally located.
“Though all these PHCs have their particular importance, there is a dire need to establish more facilities to cater to people,” said Bashir Ahmad, from Baba Reshi.
The residents demand state-of-art upgradation in order to lower the burden on people who are bearing the brunt of lack of facilities.
On Baramulla-Baba Reshi NH 701, there are nearly a dozen villages including Nambalnar which remain disconnected during winter months and pregnant women suffer the most.
“In winter, the expecting mothers face transport issues as the area receives heavy snowfall,” said Ajaz Ahmad, a resident of Nambalnar village. “They have to travel to Tangmarg or SDH Kreeri which is very difficult. The government has forgotten us amid sufferings,” he said.
Similarly, in another area which is near Sranz Waterfall at Nagbal village, there are some 10 villages that also lack a PHC forcing patients to travel to SDH Chandoosa, SDH Kreeri, and SDH Tangmarg, which are located 20 kilometres away and pregnant women are the worst sufferers.
He said despite health being a priority sector, the health department has failed to ensure adequate investment in primary health which is their main domain.
Spokesperson Directorate of Health Services Kashmir, Dr Mir Mushtaq said the department follows Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) norms before sanctioning any health facility.
“Population is the major decider to sanction any health facility. If these villages fit the IPHS norms, the villagers should approach us. Then the directorate will examine the same and then a recommendation can be sent to the government,” he said.
