No Vegetables for In-Patients at PHC Campbell Bay for Over Two Months; No Potable Water for Over Two Years

Tarun Karthick

Campbell Bay, 16 June 2022

The In-Patients at PHC Campbell Bay are being served plain Rice and Dal for over two months now. The helpless patients who get admitted to the PHC from remote areas of Great Nicobar for treatment do not even get clean potable drinking water at the hospital.

PHC Campbell Bay is the main hospital in Great Nicobar Island. Patients from all corners of the Islands both tribals and non-tribals are completely dependent on PHC Campbell Bay for their treatment.

While the doctors and other medical staff gives the best possible care to the patients, the lack of basic facilities voids their effort.

Due to non-payment of bills, the supplier of vegetables stopped the supply of vegetables around two months ago to the PHC. The hospital administration had to call for a new tender for the supply of vegetables which is still due and the in-patients are made to suffer.

While the patients who live nearby and have relatives living at Campbell Bay are able to manage their food requirements, the patients from remote hamlets are the ones who are the real sufferers.

Potable water is not available at the PHC for more than two years now. The Reverse Osmosis Water Purifier installed at the PHC has gone defunct and it has not been repaired even after multiple complaints to the hospital authorities and higher authorities of the Directorate of Health Services.

The office of PHC Campbell Bay lacks adequate infrastructure and manpower. PHC Campbell Bay office is responsible for the official works of all health establishments in Great Nicobar Island.

The Office of PHC Campbell Bay is operating with only a single computer and no peons or MTS are posted at the office. The office is also short of one Lower Grade Clerk to handle the official responsibilities.