Senthil Kumar & Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Sept 21: Nirmal Mistry, name changed, a villager of remote Badam Nallah in Middle Andaman had to recently shell out Rs 2500/- for a minor medical diagnosis. A daily wage labourer leading a family of five, Mistry, developed severe pain in his abdomen earlier this month. Bothered he rushed to the nearest Health Centre, but was shocked to learn that the Centre was not equipped with Ultrasound Machines. His visit to other Health Centres spread across parts of Middle Andaman including the Community Health Centre at Rangat also proved futile. Eventually, the hapless resident had to come to GB Pant Hospital for the check-up giving up a day’s work and spending more than Rs 2000/- towards boarding and lodging just to confirm that the pain was normal abdominal ache, not Kidney stone.
Inadequate diagnostic facilities, particularly lack of Ultrasound Machines is toying with the health of residents in Middle Andaman. Spanning from Baratang to Billyground, the Middle Andaman region has one Community Health Centre, three Primary Health Centres and some Sub Centres. But none of the Centre is equipped with the basic Ultra Sound testing facility forcing patients to travel to Port Blair for diagnosis. “Middle Andaman is home to a massive population from Baratang to Billyground. However, none of the Health Centres in the region has Ultrasound testing facility which is a crucial diagnostic test for pregnant women, gall bladder, kidney stones etc. Patients, mostly from the poor sections, here are forced to travel to Port Blair for diagnosis after spending huge amounts from their pockets.
They have to stay for about a week in Port Blair for their turn and bear huge expenses for lodging and baording. “They say that there is an Ultrasound machine at Mayabunder but we went twice but we found either there is no staff to operate the machine or the machine is out of orders,” said a lady of Rangat Village.
The Health Department should immediately equip atleast two Health Centre in Middle Andaman with Ultrasound Testing facility. Radiologists may be deputed atleast twice in a month to undertake diagnosis in the Middle Andaman Centre for the benefit of the population,” laments Probir Sarkar of Billyground.
The UT Lt. Governor has been reiterating his committing towards providing better healthcare to the natives of these islands. Andaman Sheekha hopes that the Administrator will intervene in the issue and instruct the Health Department to equip a couple of Health Centres in Middle Andaman with the Ultrasound Machines for the benefit of the residents.
