Meghalaya: Lack of infra at Umkiang PHC worries villagers

SHILLONG:

The assistant Waheh Shnong (asst. headman) of Umkiang village, Kynjaimon Amse, has written to the District & Medical Health Officer of East Jaintia Hills for upgrading the Umkiang Primary Health Centre (PHC) to a Community Health Centre (CHC).

Amse, through the letter, stated that the health centre lacks infrastructure and there is an urgent need for the appointment of a doctor at the PHC.

Amse pointed out that that the PHC has been neglected for years and this has led to the deplorable condition of the building.

The letter also mentioned that the basic facilities such as beds and mattresses in the wardroom are damaged and must be replaced, given the urgency of the COVID situation.

Besides that, Amse also raised the issue of formalin injection at the PHC which has caused hardships.

Pointing out that doctors are an integral part of any PHC, he said, “A major problem of the PHC is the absence of an MBBS doctor and at present, the PHC is being handled only by Ayurveda doctors. This is a major cause of concern and this has to be addressed immediately without fail.”

The Umkiang PHC is the only health care centre in the border area, catering to the diverse medical need of the people, and at present, caters to 15000 people from 16 villages, the letter mentioned.

“There is a need to increase the manpower and medical staff at the PHC besides making several other facilities to cater to the need of the people to ease the problems of the people who have to travel to the cities for different types of tests,” Amse added.

(Edited by Shankar Kumar Turha)

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