CANACONA
A group of concerned locals met the Canacona Deputy Collector on Friday and voiced serious concerns regarding poor facilities at the Community Health Centre (CHC), the lone government hospital in Canacona.
The residents representing the Canacona Health Welfare Committee (CHWC) put forth their grievances before Dy Collector Madhu Narvekar in the presence of Canacona Mamlatdar Jitendra Bugde, CHC Health Officer Dr Jose Tavares, Canacona BDO Savio Carvalho and Medical Officer Dr Diwakarji Velip.
CHWC Chairman Diego da Silva, Honorat Fernandes, Natividade De Sa, Sanjay Komarpant and Anil Bhagat were among those who listed out various problems at the Canacona CHC.
People alleged there is a grave shortage of doctors and the lab technicians are irregular at the CHC, while blood tests are not conducted early in the morning.
They also complained that patients do not get ambulance services properly.
“Hospital ambulances are always broken down, and when they are repaired and available, drivers play truant and disappear, even to the extent of not responding to the calls of the doctor on duty,” complained one resident.
Claiming that the current situation in this hospital is badly managed, CHWC members claimed that patients are made to run from pillar to post for every service.
They requested the Dy Collector or even Mamlatdar to pay a surprise visit to investigate the situation at the Canacona CHC.
They also suggested that Health Minister Vishwajit Rane should inspect the Community Health Centre (CHC) and improve health services in Canacona.
At the end of the meeting, Dy Collector Madhu Narvekar assured members that he would take up the issue and report the matter to the Collector (South).
Among those present at the meeting included Shirish Pai, CMC Councilors Simon Rebelo, Sara Naikdesai and Amita Pagi, John Barreto, Sukumar, Sebastian Fernandes, Peter, former Councillor Stanley Gracias, Sagar Nagarsekar, Ervil Barretto, Caitano Fernandes.
