Zaffer Iqbal
Uri, Mar 14 : Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Uri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district is left with only three ambulances, even as the whole medical block total four vehicles, after seven ambulances were scrapped by the authorities last month.
A health official at SDH Uri told GNS that they are facing huge difficulties in managing the things, particularly with regard to referral of patients as there is an acute dearth of ambulances in the medical block. “There are only three ambulances available at SDH Uri and one ambulance at NTPHC Kamalkote Uri”, he said adding all in all there is a total of four ambulances available in the whole Medical block – Uri.
He said the ambulances of PHC Mohura, NTPHC Garkote, NTPHC Nambla and NTPHC Isham and 3 of SDH Uri were condemned last month and all these ambulances were sent back to the department.
He further said Medical Block Uri consists of almost 40 health centers and these centres are located in far off villages of Uri. “In emergency cases when an ambulance goes from SDH Uri to bring patients from different health centers or villages and if a patient needs to be shifted for further treatment, he is shifted from Uri but the patients too are suffering due to shortage of ambulances”, he said.
He said that even as Block Medical Officer (BMO) has intimated the issue to higher ups, there is nothing being done regarding the matter as of now.
Meanwhile a delegation of locals told GNS that Uri town is one of the far-off hamlets of Kashmir and Sub-division Uri which spans over 100 plus villages and majority of the population are living in tough terrain due to hilly area with nearly 40 villages of the Uri located on Line of Control.
They said if the government has introduced many schemes regarding better medical facilities, then why is a remote area(s) like Uri being neglected. “We frequently witness road accidents and wild animal attacks, so in such a scenario availability of prompt ambulance services becomes altogether important”, they said.
Meanwhile the higher-ups did not respond to any calls despite repeated attempts made by GNS. (GNS)
