Sopore residents demand upgradation of SDH to District Hospital

Srinagar, Jan 09: The residents of Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district have requested the government for the upgradation of Sub District Hospital to District Hospital for better healthcare facilities.
The residents of Apple Town have recently written to the government in this regard. They said the current health infrastructure, though commendable, has its limitations, prompting them to seek enhanced healthcare facilities.
Fayaz Ahmad, a trader from Sopore said District Hospital is a genuine demand from the residents and it should be done for the larger interest of people. “It is the need of the hour. There facilities in Sopore are limited. The SDH should be upgraded so that people have better healthcare facilities at their doorsteps,” he said.
The health facility has insufficient manpower to cater to the health needs of the public. The shortage of doctors means an overburdening of the staff and more referrals to Srinagar.
Junaid Ahmad, a resident, said the SDH lacks manpower including paediatricians. He alleged that mismanagement and lack of accountability have taken a toll on health care. “No paediatrician is seen during night hours at the hospital which forces health workers to shift the patients to Baramulla or Srinagar,” he said.
The SDH caters to a huge population of Sopore, Bandipora, Baramulla, Handwara, Langate, Kupwara, Baramulla and other far-off areas. On a daily basis, the centrally located health facility sees footfall of 1000 patients from different areas.
Locals have also alleged that health workers at the hospital are frequently seen without their uniforms or aprons, causing difficulty for patients and the general public to identify the staff. “Even the roster of the doctors and paramedical staff is not made public on notice boards with which patients and their attendants face a number of difficulties,” they said.
Block Medical Officer (BMO), Sopore, Dr Zulfikar Nabi said they have also proposed the upgradation of the Sub District Hospital to District Hospital and the matter is under discussion as the area is catering to the population of more than three lakh people.
Over the lack of an MRI machine, he said they have written to the government and given feasibility like manpower and other requirements. “We are hopeful that the hospital will soon get an MRI machine,” he said.
Dr Zulfikar said the old Mother and Child Hospital was shifted to the main SDH eight months ago and the MCH has been converted into an immunization centre. “The old MCH building would be renovated. We have got approval for a UPHC for Sopore and that would be started at the MCH building,” he said, adding that the upcoming UPHC will decrease the burden on SDH Sopore and specialist doctors will be posted.
Regarding the maternity services at SDH Sopore, he said earlier that running maternity services 24/7 was impossible however over the years, it has become a reality at the hospital. “Now the theatre is working round the clock and we have enough specialists like gynaecologists there to run the theatre,” the BMO said.
About the issue of a new under-construction building at SDH Sopore, Dr Zulfikar said the issue has been taken up with the Roads and Buildings Department and construction work is expected to commence soon.