Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 04 January 2023
The staff of the Health Department deputed in various Health Sub-Centres in Great Nicobar, especially the Sub-Centres located in the jurisdiction of Laxmi Nagar Panchayat often skip their duties, because of which the residents face a lot of problems.
On 1st January 2023, Nicobar Times Team visited Laxmi Nagar Village and witnessed that the Sub-Centre located in the village was locked. Outside the Sub-Centre a Notice said ‘This Sub-Centre is Functional 24X7’.
On 3rd January 2023, an aged female resident of Laxmi Nagar Village suffered an injury leading to heavy loss of blood. She was later shifted to PHC Gandhi Nagar after the ambulance arrived. She did not receive proper First Aid because the Sub-Centre was locked and the staff deputed there was not available.
Residents of Joginder Nagar and Shastri Nagar have also informed that the Sub-Centre located in their villages also remains locked during the night. The staff of Health Sub-Centres have clear instructions to be present at the Sub-Centre 24X7 to provide emergency medical assistance and basic medical care to the residents.
The Sub-Centres have living space for staff, all required facilities are available, but the staff usually locks up the Sub-Centres at night and they stay beyond the village limits mostly at Campbell Bay.
Some staff do not even attend to their duties during the day shift.
Residents have demanded that the health department should compulsorily get the attendance of all the Sub-Centre staff verified by the Local Ward Member and the Pradhan of the respective Gram Panchayat before preparing their salary bills.
Residents face a lot of problems because of the negligent attitude of the staff of the Health Department posted at various Sub-Centres.