I’m writing to his Excellency, Lieutenant Governor J&K Manoj Sinha from the village of border town Tehsil Uri of North Kashmir’s Baramulla District. The WHO Constitution (1946) envisages “…the highest attainable standard of health as a fundamental right of every human being.” Acknowledging health as a human right recognizes a legal obligation on states to ensure access to timely, acceptable, and affordable health care. The village Nambla being the most populous village of Uri Tehsil is facing hardships due to the non availability of Hospital Building. 5-6 years and still counting since the construction of New Type Primary Health Centre was started at Nambla village of north Kashmir’s Tehsil Uri District Baramulla but it is yet to be completed even as locals face immense hardships for want of this facility. For the last 5-6 years, people of NamblaVillage are awaiting the completion of a new building of New Type Primary Health Centre. The construction on the new building was started after the old hospital building was found unsafe for the use. The hospital building was badly damaged by the devastating earthquake of October, 2005. The new building was sanctioned and the construction of new building was started by shifting the hospital in a fabricated shed on rent basis. The structure of the hospital building was constructed way back in 2015-16 but since then the construction has been stopped which makes local habitants suffer badly. Locals complained of slow pace of work at the new hospital. Due to the construction of New Hospital Building which is going on at snail’s pace(Which can be gauged from the fact that it is still under-construction since past more than 6 years) patients have to travel long distances for the treatment of minor ailments. During the harsh winters when the roads are closed due to heavy snowfall in upper reaches of the village people have to travel by foot to reach Sub District Hospital Uri. At the time of foundation, the officials had set a deadline for completion of the hospital. Since then several deadlines have passed but the hospital is still incomplete.The locals in the area said that the government has failed to complete the project within stipulated time. “The foundation stone for the construction of NTPHC Nambla was laid way back in 2015 and since then only four walls were constructed, while whole building is open without roofing and is awaiting completion. Now this under construction open hospital building has become the shelter for dogs which is posing threat of dog bite to the pedestrians. The construction work on the project, was started 5-6 years ago, but due to unknown reasons the construction was halted.
The lack of hospital facility at Nambla is increasing the burden of Sub District Hospital Uri also. SDH Uri is already facing lack of facilities and staff. The Hospital at Nambla was catering a huge population Nambla and all other neighbouring villages viz, Danna, Sahoora, Hathlanga, Nambla B, Nambla C, Dakhan, and Kaller. Also the vaccination facility was badly effected due to the non availability of proper cold chain facility at the new place where hospital is currently functioning. Both the patients and doctors are suffering due to the space constraints and paucity of beds in the building from which the hospital is currently functioning.For us it was a vital project, said a local resident. Various facilities including laboratory and emergency care are badly affected due to the lack of space in the current hospital building(fabricated shed). The new building could have set things right but unfortunately its completion is being delayed,” he said, adding that new building can make available additional rooms for wards and consultation.Locals said that they have been facing immense hardships in the absence of New Type Primary Health Centre in the village as the successive governments and the local administration have failed to complete the work on the building. They said that they have been witnessing the construction of the hospital building from last more than 5-6 years but the building has not been completed even has it has already several deadlines. Locals said that the project should have been given the priority as this is an emergency service and due to its absence, the local population is suffering immensely. Present hospital building is in a shambles where the OPD, general ward, and accident and emergency wards are functioning from pre-fabricated shed. Had the hospital building been completed on time, our problems would have been mitigated and the common people won’t have to suffer like this every day, said another resident. The residents of Nambla and other adjoining areas appeal LG Administration for timely completion of the building of NTPHC Nambla so that patients do not suffer.
(The author a resident of Nambla Uri is a Nursing Research Scholar.The views, opinions, facts, assumptions, presumptions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”.)
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