In This Part of Chhattisgarh, Medical Help Means 10-Kilometre Walk

Mangalore Today News Network

Mankeli, Sep 19, 2015:  Every month, the 16-year-old Kursam Suresh has to cycle 10 km on a dirt track through a Naxal-infested area to take his sister to the Bijapur district headquarter for treatment of her tuberculosis, as the primary health centre in their village remains shut. In some cases the serious patients are taken on a cot through the difficult terrain.

Built at a cost of over Rs. 20 lakh, the sub health centre aimed at providing primary health care to the people of the four villages under the Mankeli village panchayat is mostly shut.

The project was approved in the year 2009-10 but because of the naxal problem in the region and poor infrastructure it was built in district headquarter Bijapur, 10 kilometre from Mankeli Panchayat in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, which already has a district hospital.

Kursam Suresh of Gorna village told NDTV: "We have difficulty taking patients to Bijapur, at times we carry them on cots and bicycles. Earlier, nurse used to visit us now they have also stopped, we have written to the administration about it."

Admitting that the Mankeli sub health centre is not that effective, Chief Medical Health Officer, Bijapur, Dr B L Pujari said: "During that time it was not possible to construct it there (Mankeli Panchayat) as there are no roads and it’s a naxal area, a sensitive area."

"Yes the health centre 10km away from Mankeli is not benefiting the villagers directly. But we send mobile teams to the panchayat."

However, the local villagers claim that a health worker in their village was seen almost a year ago.

The villagers with bicycle are lucky enough to own a mode of traveling at least, however, there are many families which have no other option but to walk to Bijapur to visit a doctor.

 

Courtesy: NDTV