Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 16 August 2023
The Primary Health Centre (PHC) located in Campbell Bay, a vital healthcare facility for residents of Great Nicobar and Little Nicobar, is grappling with a dire shortage of potable water. This crisis has left inpatients in a state of immense suffering as they struggle to secure clean drinking water during their stay.
The PHC, which plays a pivotal role in providing medical care to the local population, has been plagued by a series of challenges, the most pressing being the absence of a reliable drinking water supply. This situation persisted for nearly two years until December 28, 2022, when the TSG Foundation stepped in and donated a Reverse Osmosis (RO) Water Purifier to the PHC.
The donated RO Water Purifier brought temporary relief to patients, offering access to clean drinking water. However, this respite was short-lived, as the RO system recently malfunctioned and has not been repaired since, leaving the facility once again without a functioning water purification mechanism.
Currently, the inpatients housed within the hospital wards are confronted with the arduous task of procuring their own drinking water. The hospital authorities are hamstrung by the non-operational RO Water Purifiers, leaving the inpatients to fend for themselves in arranging this basic necessity.
The impact of this water crisis is particularly severe on patients hailing from remote areas, who lack a support network in Campbell Bay. They find themselves in a vulnerable position, struggling to obtain drinking water multiple times a day due to the absence of a dependable water supply system.
Despite media reports spotlighting the issue, the Directorate of Health Services has yet to take action to address the malfunctioning RO Water Purifiers. It was only due to the intervention of a non-governmental organization (NGO) that the patients were able to regain access to clean drinking water.
However, the situation has taken a new turn for the worse. The RO Water Purifier donated by the NGO has now also ceased to function, leaving patients in a precarious situation once again. The question arises: will these patients have to wait for another act of charity before they can access clean and safe drinking water?
In light of these distressing circumstances, Mr. T Shiva Raj, a dedicated social worker and Ward Member of Campbell Bay Panchayat, has made an impassioned plea to the Administration. He is urging for immediate action to install a new RO Water Purifier and to expedite repairs on the defunct systems. Such interventions are crucial to alleviate the suffering of patients and restore the PHC’s ability to provide adequate medical care.