John Wilbert &Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Jan 04: The Laxmi Nagar Sub Centre of Great Nicobar Islands has become a symbol of mismanagement in the Health Department. There is a notice outside the Sub Centre which says “This Sub-Centre is Functional 24X7” but according to the public of the region the Sub Centre remains locked most of the time.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha Daily, Mr. Girish Joshi, a resident of Laxmi Nagar Panchayat alleged that on 3rd January 2023 an old lady of the area got injured and sustained grievous head injuries and suffered blood loss but when she was taken to the sub- centre it was found closed. Later she was rushed to PHC Campbell Bay for treatment.
Further Mr. Prahlad Singh, Pradhan of Laxmi Nagar Gram Panchayat told Andaman Sheekha said that in Laxmi Nagar Panchayatall the villagers are settlers and most of them belong to ex-serviceman category and are old. “Here we have one Sub-Centre which should function 24X7 as per Administration but in reality it functions only between 08:00AM to 01:00PM,” he added.
He said that the Sub Centreis functioning with only one CHO, one ANM and one Ayya who are deputed by Health Departmentbut due to staff shortage in Campbell Bay most of the time the staff deputed in other Health Centre,
He requested the Administration to look into the matter and depute sufficient staff in Laxmi Nagar Sub Centre.
In this regard Andaman Sheekha contacted a senior officer of Campbell Bay who said that there are only 03 staff in the Sub Centre of Laxmi Nagar since the last few days.As Laxmi Nagar Sub Centre staffs are deputed in other places. He said that as all staff are women they prefer not to stay in the Sub Centre because last year some unwanted incident had taken place at night hours.
