[Assam] Dhemaji Civil Hospital in dilapidated condition (The Sentinel, 22.06.2007)

[Buljit Buragohain]

          Dhemaji Civil Hospital in dilapidated condition
Tough time 
>From our Correspondent
DHEMAJI, June 21: The Dhemaji Civil Hospital is crying for renovation as its condition is most deplorable due to shortage of staff and dilapidated condition of the OT Room, paying cabins, general wards, doctors’ and nurse’s quarter and hostel and so on. Besides, many an important posts are lying vacant since long— one post of Deputy Superintendent, four posts of STMO, seven posts of SMO, 11 posts of fourth grade etc. Interestingly, the hospital does not have radiologist, cardiologist, pathologist, orthopaedist, district malaria officer etc. 
Dhemaji district is a malaria-prone district but it is a cause for concern that the hospital lacks the bare minimum facilities, let alone a district malaria officer, sufficient mosquito nets or anti-malaria drugs. Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma while visiting Dhemaji assured of extending all possible help to modernize the civil hospital with new technologies like high tech x-ray machine, cancer testing laboratory etc. But it is alleged that the minister has not been able to keep his promise. 
The biggest problem that the hospital facing is that there is no constant running water, not a single usable latrine or bathroom. The attendants or patients have to suffer a lot due to these problems. Worse, the doctors even do not get to wash his hands properly after examining a patient due to lack of water. 
The condition of the operation theatres is most unhygienic as there is every chance of infection after the operation. The blame should be put on the management lapse of the hospital authorities not the doctors. Same situation prevails in Dhemaji civil hospital where the OT room is in an unhygienic condition. After the minister’s visit and his assurance, the condition of the hospital is deteriorating day by day, said the allegations. 
The allegations added that there is no proper co-ordination among the Joint Director, Hospital Superintendent and Deputy Commissioner. There are allegations against the office accounts section for irregularities of the funds collected from daily registration fees. People have been demanding proper enquiry into it. It may be mentioned that the Dhemaji Civil Hospital is the only referral unit in the district.
Another most important point is the dilapidated road condition between Dhemaji town and civil hospital. The civil hospital is situated at about 3 km away from the town. The road is like a death trap for the patients. Big potholes of the road created lot of inconvenience to the people. The people of Dhemaji have been demanding repair of the road since long by taking recourse to different types of protests like blocking the NH 52, staging hunger strike etc. Different organizations have urged the district administration to repair the hospital road. But all these demands are unheard and the road is now in most dilapidated condition. 
The people of Dhemaji have been urging the district administration to fill up the potholes by sand gravels for temporary arrangement, but to no avail. It is worth mentioning that the Dhemaji Civil Hospital is the only district referral unit having 100 beds for 5.5 lakh population of the district. The community health centres of Jona, Bensanhsarah, Bordoloni and Gogamukh are in the worst condition. 
People have also been urging the health minister to fulfil the vacant posts of Dhemaji hospital and improve it to a modern hospital having all types of facilities. The quarters of doctors should be improved by repairing and providing hygienic water on a regular basis. Dhemaji DC should take all possible steps for making this hospital to the best hospital in this easternmost corner of the State.
     
   
  (The Sentinel,22.06.2007)

       
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