THOUBAL, March 2: The District Hospital at Chandel upon inspection by Committee on protection of Tribal Rights (CoPTR) was found to be understaffed and unmaintained.
Adviser, Ts. Beton has said that the hospital has only 14 doctors and 11 nurses. However due to lack of quarters for the doctors and the staffs only 2 doctors at a time are running the hospital and available for the Outdoor Patients.
The CoPTR and Maha Area Chiefs Association (MACA) along with the media conducted inspection at the ADC Chandel Dispensary, CMO office, Office of the District Malaria Officer, Office of the District TB Officer. The inspection team went to the District hospital first to check on their facilities and also inquired the patients whether the authority provide medication and food for them. However, the patients replied that they had to conduct their blood and X-ray tests outside the hospital.
Speaking to the media person, a nurse has stated that patients cannot be treated properly as necessary supplies such as first aid equipments and medicine for emergency has been stopped. The hospital even lacked in hand gloves used in delivery. Waste matters are piling up at the back of the hospital as there is no proper waste disposal.
Upon enquiring the COM of Chandel regarding the stoppage of supply of medicine to the hospital, he replied that medicines which were to be provided under the National Health Mission (NHM) were not supplied. The dispensary has also only one nurse and the medicine storage was also found to be empty.
After the inspection, Adviser, Ts. Beton stated to the media that most of the people in Chandel are poor. The dilapidated condition and lack of equipments at the hospital has already demoralized the spirits of the poor people of the district and seemed to have been cast aside to be left for dead. He further stated that it is disheartening to imagine the condition of PHC and PHSC located remote areas of the district.
The CoPTR and MACA will submit memorandum to the Health Minister to provide the necessary facilities to the hospital and district headquarter. The adviser further declared that various forms of action will be taken up if positive steps are not taken up by those concerned.
