Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept 29: Mr. Manojit Halder , Pradhan, Gram Panchayat Harinagar, met with Dr. Shidha Raju , Director of Health Services, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, and Dr. Ganesh Samaddar the Deputy Director (Medical) today at Sri Vijaya Puram to address critical healthcare challenges affecting the local population.
The primary agenda of the meeting focused on the severe ambulance crisis at Primary Health Centre (PHC) Billiground. The Pradhan highlighted that two years ago, following his formal request, the administration had successfully provided an ambulance to PHC Billiground. However, within two to three months, the vehicle was shifted to District Hospital, Mayabunder, leaving the local facility with an “unconditional” and unreliable old M-series vehicle. This mechanical instability has caused immense suffering to patients requiring urgent emergency transit.
Taking a swift note of the public grievance, the Director and Dr. Ganesh Samadder , Deputy Director (Medical) provided positive assurances that immediate steps would be taken to resolve the ambulance shortage on priority.
Additionally, Mr. Manojit Halder raised other long-standing infrastructural demands for PHC Billiground, including:
- Establishment of a Dialysis Unit: Re-emphasising the physical and financial hardships faced by kidney patients who currently travel nearly 30 kilometers to Mayabunder or Rangat for routine sessions.
- Laboratory Upgradation: Improving local diagnostic facilities to ensure rapid testing and care.
The Director of Health Services reportedly assured full administrative cooperation in evaluating and implementing these expansions to strengthen rural healthcare delivery.
