OLD GOA
A large number of locals gathered on Gandhi Jayanti demanding a full-fledged health centre at the old hospital in Ribandar on Friday.
Locals under the banner of Ribandar Health Care Committee were led by lawyer-activist Aires Rodrigues and with the support of Se Old Goa and Chimbel panchayats.
Speaking at the meeting, Adv Rodrigues reminded the people that the then chief minister in April 2017, had promised the locals that medical facilities would be available at Ribandar hospital within three months.
“Later, MLA Babush Monserrate had promised in his manifesto that 24x7 medical facilities will be made available here along with round the clock casualty services. But today, the government is intending to set up a day dispensary which we are completely opposed to,” Rodrigues stated.
“Our demand is clear that we don’t want a day dispensary but a full-fledged health centre which will not only cater to Ribandar but also surrounding villages like Old Goa, Corlim, Divar, Chorao, Chimbel and Merces,” he added.
“We are opposed to a day dispensary and we will fight till a full-fledged health centre is established at Ribandar,” Rodrigues stated while opining that the locals are only demanding their due rights as this was Asia’s first hospital to be established.
A local, Antonio Inacio, opined that Ribandar needs a hospital as it existed 32 years ago.
“A lot of changes have occurred since then with the population increasing. A hospital is the need of the hour to cater to the health needs of the people,” he added.
Se Old Goa panchas Vishwas Kuttikar and Tulsidas Kavlekar, Chimbel sarpanch Chandrakant Kunkolkar and others were present.
