Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 13 May 2024
Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Campbell Bay stands as the cornerstone of healthcare in Great Nicobar. For the island’s residents, reliant on the PHC for their basic health needs, its importance cannot be overstated. However, recent revelations shed light on significant deficiencies within this vital institution, particularly concerning its dental unit.
Great Nicobar Island boasts two PHCs, with the secondary facility located in Gandhi Nagar lacking the necessary infrastructure to fulfil its intended role. The burden thus falls squarely on PHC Campbell Bay to serve the island’s populace.
While equipped with a dental unit and staffed by a dentist, the unit’s functionality is severely compromised due to a scarcity of essential equipment and medicines. Even basic necessities like a properly functioning dental chair and dental X-ray equipment are conspicuously absent. Patients requiring even simple dental X-rays are referred to Port Blair.
Furthermore, the lack of auxiliary support staff, such as dental assistants, exacerbates the unit’s operational challenges. Medications prescribed by the dentist are often unavailable at the PHC’s Pharmacy, patients are asked to purchase the medicine from private pharmacy.
The dire situation has left the dental unit at PHC Campbell Bay virtually non-operational, compelling patients to endure the inconvenience and expense of traveling to Port Blair for even minor oral care needs. The financial burden of such journeys, encompassing transportation, lodging, and sustenance, presents a formidable obstacle for many residents.
Consequently, a significant number of patients opt to postpone or forego treatment altogether, exacerbating their oral health issues and underscoring the urgency of addressing the shortcomings at PHC Campbell Bay.
Directorate of Health Services’ apparent negligence towards the dental unit’s plight is a matter of grave concern. Urgent intervention is imperative to rectify the situation, ensuring that the residents of Great Nicobar receive the comprehensive healthcare they deserve. Efforts to supply the necessary equipment and medications to PHC Campbell Bay must be prioritised to alleviate the burdens faced by the island’s populace.