Port Blair, Feb 23: CPI (M) has demanded upgradation of Community Health Centre, Diglipur to Sub-District Hospital with all the required infrastructure facilities and doctors and staff. In a letter sent to the Chief Secretary, Andaman & Nicobar Administration D. Ayyappan, Secretary, CPI (M) A & N State Organising Committee said that the CHC, Diglipur which is the only hospital in North Andaman with certain level of facilities caters to the needs of 40,000 of population of the Diglipur Tehsil. With the expansion of defence installations and growing urbanization in and around Diglipur/Subhashgram Gram Panchayats, the population in the Tehsil is expected to grow fast in the coming years. More tourism projects are proposed to be implemented in North Andaman, further pushing the movements of tourists and others to the area.
CPI (M) Secretary informed the Chief Secretary that though some specialist doctors on contract have been posted to the CHC Diglipur, a large number of patients are either referred to Port Blair hospitals or the patients are proceeding to mainland for specialized medical treatment.
Ayyappan further stated in the letter that people of Diglipur Tehsil find it difficult to go to the District Hospital at Mayabunder for better treatment. Referring to his recent visit to CHC Diglipur, Ayyappan told the Chief Secretary that there is an urgent need to increase the facilities available at the CHC. More Specialist doctors, GDMOs, Nursing Staff, paramedical and other staff are required to be posted to the CHC Diglipur to meet the growing requirements of the people. He suggested to the Chief Secretary that this can be done if the CHC, Diglipur is upgraded to the status of Sub-District Hospital. If the CHC is upgraded as Sub District Hospital more specialist doctors of all categories can be posted besides the Staff Nurses, Technicians, Ward Boy, Ayah, etc. This will also increase the bed capacity of the hospital besides the required machineries and equipments to make a modern hospital in the government sector.
