Changtongya, September 2 (MExN): The general public of Changtongya Town has urged the People's Democratic Alliance (PDA) Government and concerned authorities to look into the problems of Community Health Centre (CHC) at Changtongya at the earliest.
Stating that the CHC is lacking critical workforce in terms of doctors and other staffs, a press release, asked the government to look into the matter at the earliest, failing which the public would be compelled to observe an indefinite bandh from October 2 by blocking National Highway 62 and Longleng road.
The release, issued by T Meyi Longkumer, Chairman All Ward Union Changtongya Town, informed that on October 2, 1955, a National Service Extension Block was first inaugurated at Changtongya and after attaining statehood, one Primary Heath Centre was opened.
With course of time due to rapid population growth in and around the town, it was upgraded to CHC, which formally started functioning from 1988, it said.
“The reasons for up-gradation were such that this CHC covers the whole of Longleng and Tamlu sub-division at that point of time,” it added.
Stating that according to prescribed criteria, one CHC hospital should have at least five doctors headed by a Senior Medical Officer (SMO) "working round the clock," the release expressed disappointment that Changtongya CHC has “only one Ayush doctor working round the clock.”
The release also expressed appreciation Dr Wapang (Ayush doctor) for his dedicated and tireless work as well as a dental doctor who comes once a week, all the way from Mokokchung, to perform her duties.
However, it lamented that the doctor, who is supposed to come twice, visit only once in a week. Yet the general public put up with such a situation accepting that “something is better than nothing,” it added.
Apart from this, the other doctors are nowhere to be found. One doctor was posted out to another place without any replacement and other doctors upon enquiry were reportedly found attached at Kohima, the release pointed out.
It also mentioned that in the past the public have submitted many applications, representations and through personal meetings with the higher authorities at Kohima regarding these shortcomings, however, nothing has been done so far.
It also expressed apprehension that the Measles-Rubella Campaign 2018, starting from October 3 under CHC Changtongya Block will face problem as a single Ayush doctor will be handling seven villages, eleven wards from Changtongya Town along with 22 Schools and 21 Anganwadi Centres.
The release, in this connection, cautioned that "if the PDA Government continues to turn a deaf ear to the genuine demands, the public of Changtongya Town area will be compelled to observe indefinite bandh from October 2 by blocking National Highway 62 and Longleng road.”
