NONGSTOIN: Kyrshai, a neglected border village in West Khasi Hills, has no basic facilities, including healthcare.
The health sub-centre in the village has turned into a cow shed and a warehouse to store brooms for local traders, the Rambrai circle of the Federation of Khasi-Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) said.
Members of the group went on an inspection last week and found there were no medicines, electricity or water supply in the “abandoned ghost house”.
Locals said the sub-centre functioned once in two months and it was managed by only one nurse who came once in two months with limited medicines which are not sufficient for the people of Kyrshai.
FKJGP West Khasi Hills District Unit President Palwanbor Syiem said the sub-centre was built to serve the people of Kyrshai but the irregular functioning of the health centre has affected people.
Locals have to rush to Assam for treatment if it is an emergency, which is a costly affair. “The Health office in West Khasi Hills should take immediate action and should not play with the lives of the people in border area,” said the FKJGP leader. Villagers said all those who were posted to Kyrshai did not attend duty even for a single day.
“We have learned that there are many unemployed nurses in our state and the district, so why the Health Department did not appoint those who are willing to stay and work in far-flung areas,” said a villager.
The FKJGP leader demanded that the Government should upgrade the sub-centre to a primary health centre.
