BY SUHAIL KHAN
Dr Sameer Mattoo
Esteemed Sir,
First of all, I would like to congratulate you & your whole team of heath care professionals for putting a great fight against Covid 19 pandemic. This virus consumed much of our resources, our energies & at large our own. Without your backing, this pandemic would be like going to war without soldiers, fielding bombs at empty bunkers & having snipers but missing targets again and again. We as grateful nation have watched your efforts & rightly bestowed upon you a legacy of respect. This pandemic explosion has in fact highlighted the importance of the health facilities systems & hospitals in the first place & their constant management as relevant part of the whole governance of this dramatic and complex moment. Many powerful voices today have argued that our lack of investment inefficiency and investment insufficiency in healthcare have placed the world at unacceptable risks for our modern age.
Now, with humble reverence and sense of gratitude, I want draw your kind attention towards PHC SAFAPORA. SAFAPORA , a recently announced DDC constituency, has a Niabat & block status also, is situated at a junction between highly populated districts (Ganderbal & Bandipora) around 15kms away from the district headquarter Ganderbal. Safapora constituency consists of around 30 thousand souls. The Allopathic dispensary of 1960’S at Safapora was upgraded to PHC in 90’S but over the last 35 years, it has not been upgraded to Community Health Centre, causing a lot of problems to patients & attendants. The PHC is lacking the staff, infrastructure & key diagnostic facilities. Number of patients visting the PHC have increased manifolds over the years .On an average, more than 200 patients visit the centers OPD regularly. The doctors are unable to do justice with the increasing number of patients. In the absence of major testing facilities, patients suffering from minor ailments to accidental injuries are being referred to district hospital Ganderbal or Srinagar. Due to lack of diagnostic facilities, most of the patients have to either visit Srinagar hospitals for conducting tests like MRI & CT scan or privately run diagnostic centres & shelves huge amount of money . While the rich can look forward to the private sector to address their health needs, it is the poor, the neglected, the downtrodden and the marginalised amongst us who suffer and bear the brunt of an inadequate healthcare system. In case of emergency, the expecting mothers have to rush Srinagar as the PHC has no gynaecologist
As mentioned above, Safapora is a centrally located place between two districts, the PHC Safapora has to cater to the population of around 50 thousand souls that include the areas of district Bandipora such as Saderkoot, Chewa, Takiya ,Zoonipora ,Chandergera, Asham ,Mir Abad & also the areas of district Ganderbal such as Malpora, Gatabal, Kondbal, Treesa ,kohistancolony , Pehlipora etc. Besides, there are 10 high schools ,an Engineering College, Higher secondary, National Fisheries Farm , Mountain Livestock Research institute , Police Station & 13RR Camp in the proximity, which add to the workload of PHC Safapora in case of emergency.
It is worth to mention that in addition to a huge chunk of State land available adjacent to PHC Safapora , well macadamised road connectivity & strong infrastructural base such as well equipped labs, Labour room, X Ray Plant,USG Plant & its location at the tail end of district Ganderbal, make it fit to be upgraded to Community Health Centre
Therefore, I request your good self to take this matter in your favourable considerations & use your good office to upgrade the PHC Safapora to Community Health Centre.
Thanking in anticipation ,
Sohail khan, convener Civil Society Safapora
Sohail khan is associated with j&k RTI Movement & is also the convenor of civil society Safapora
