Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 26 June 2024
Mr. TSG Bhasker, Chairman of the ANTCC Campaign Committee, has raised concerns about the inadequate healthcare facilities in the villages of Durgapur, Shibpur, Kalipur, and Lamiya Bay, which fall under the Shibpur Gram Panchayat.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration on Monday, Mr. Bhasker highlighted the significant distance between Shibpur Gram Panchayat and the nearest hospital, CHC Diglipur, which is 10-12 kilometres away. He pointed out that the absence of a Primary Health Centre (PHC) in the region forces residents to travel long distances even for minor medical issues.
“Emergency cases are particularly challenging as the time required to reach immediate medical care can severely impact the health of patients, especially the elderly,” Mr. Bhasker stated.
He further emphasised the economic hardships faced by the local population, which predominantly consists of poor fishermen, cultivators, and daily wage labourers from the Ranchi community. These residents often struggle to afford transportation costs for medical visits.
“It is extremely difficult for pregnant women to receive medical assistance during night hours due to the lack of transportation facilities,” Mr. Bhasker added.
The unavailability of a PHC in Shibpur Gram Panchayat has also led to long waiting times and overcrowding at CHC Diglipur. Mr. Bhasker suggested that establishing a PHC in Shibpur would alleviate this burden, resulting in more efficient healthcare services for the community.
Mr. Bhasker concluded his letter by strongly urging the Chief Secretary to prioritize the establishment of a Primary Health Centre in Shibpur Gram Panchayat to ensure better healthcare access for the local population.