HEALTH FOR ALL

Demand to activate a non-functional BPHC

COOCH BEHAR, Jan. 27: A block primary health centre (BPHC) was established at Ashokbari of Bairagirhat in Mathabhanga-I block in 2004 but the centre is yet to start functioning. Demanding immediate initiative to develop the infrastructure to make the health centre functional the supporters of Trinamul Shramik Congress (TSC) organised a demonstration at the health centre and gheraoed the block medical officer of health (BMOH) today.

 

President of the Mathabhanga sub-divisional unit of the TSC Mr Alizar Rahman alleged that Rs 80-lakh was spent to set up the BPHC. But, till today no doctor was appointed to the BPHC. There is no arrangement to supply water. Earlier, miscreants stole medical instruments and the electrical transformer from the BPHC. The BMOH, Dr Anjan Mallik too stays at Mathabhanga town instead of the BPHC premises, he alleged. "We organised today's demonstration demanding improvement of the infrastructure of the BPHC by 15 days, otherwise we would be compelled to initiate a massive movement for the interest of the local suffering people", Mr Rahman said.

 

When contacted the chief medical officer of health (CMOH), Cooch Behar, Dr Radha Raman Banik admitted that the BPHC at Ashokbari has been lying idle for a long. The nearest facility is the sub-divisional hospital (SDH) in Mathabhanga, he said. As there is a SDH in the same block there is no plan to activate a BPHC at Ashokbari, he said. However, there is a proposal under consideration to launch a primary health centre (PHC) at Ashokbari but that would be a non-bedded one, he disclosed.

 

The CMOH said the site of the health centre at Ashokbari was situated very near to a cremation ground and the International border. It is hard to send doctors, nurses and other staff to stay at a remote place like that. Replying a question he admitted that the previous plan to introduce a BPHC at Ashokbari was a wrong one.

 

Dr Banik said an outpatients department (OPD) was running at Ashokbari. The BMOH goes there two days in a week. Additional medical officers have been deployed there. But, it is not possible to turn it a BPHC, he said.

 

Health department sources claimed that there were BPHCs in Mathabhanga-II (Ghoksadanga) and Sitalkuchi blocks. But, as the sub-divisional hospital is situated in Mathabhanga-I there is no possibility to add a BPHC in that block. The people of Hazrahat-I, Hazrahat-II, Ketarhat, Gopalpur and Nayarhat gram panchayat areas can avail health services from the 4-bedded Pakihaga PHC in addition to the SDH, the sources said. []