John Wilbert &Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Apr 21: Residents of Nancowry group of Islands in the Nicobar District are struggling to access basic healthcare services due to the lack of specialist doctors. Despite the existence of a Community Health Centre (CHC) and two Primary Health Centers (PHCs), the Nancowry group of Islands lack essential medical expertise in the fields of Gynaecology, Paediatrics, and Ophthalmology. As a result, the villagers are demanding that the Health Department arrange regular visits of specialist doctors to the Islands to improve the health care facilities.
According to local residents, in the Nancowry group of Islands, patients often have to travel long distances to access basic healthcare services. The only solution for many is to travel all the way to Port Blair for expert care which is not only troublesome but also every expensive process.
Mrs. Ayesha Majid, the chief of the Nancowry tribal council, has requested that the Andaman and Nicobar Administration to conduct regular specialist doctor visits to Nancowry group of Islands with a proper schedule in advance. She highlighted that for minor injuries, patients have to move to Port Blair hospitals, which puts a strain on their finances and is a major inconvenience for them.
In Nancowry group of Islands there are three major Health Centres viz CHC Nancowrie, PHC Katchal and PHC Teressa but lack of specialists defeat the purpose of having such Health Centres. Andaman Sheekha Daily tried to contact the officials of the Health Service to know the reason for the specialist shortage but officials of DHS were not willing to comment anything in this regard.
