MAWKYRWAT: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), Rangthong Unit, has reiterated its demand for the appointment of an MBBS-qualified doctor at the Rangthong Primary Health Centre (PHC), which has been functioning without a doctor.
The reiteration comes in the wake of the PHC being shut after a COVID-19-infected person visited the premises recently.
The KSU, Rangthong Unit, had earlier met the District Medical & Health Officer of South West Khasi Hills District, Dr FR Lartang, urging the latter to ensure that a MBBS-qualified doctor at the PHC is appointed at the earliest.
“The lack of doctor in the PHC for the last few weeks has put our people in difficulty and has concerned them, especially in these trying times amid the fight against coronavirus. We understand that following the protocols and advisories issued by the Health department are very important to avoid contracting of COVID-19, but we also understand that the fight is not easy when we don’t even have an MBBS doctor in the PHC,” general secretary, KSU, Rangthong Unit, had earlier said.
The Primary Health Centre, which is set to reopen on Tuesday, was temporarily shut after the pharmacist of Civil Hospital, Shillong, who was tested positive for COVID-19, had visited the PHC on August 4, to drop his wife who is a staff of the PHC.
General secretary, KSU, Rangthong Unit, Hamir Syiemlieh, said the pharmacist’s visit to the PHC has triggered fears among the people of Rangthong and other villages, who rely on the PHC for medical attention.
“The government should appoint an MBBS-qualified doctor before reopening the PHC, which has been functioning without a doctor for more than a month, so that the people of Rangthong area will feel safe,” Syiemlieh said.
The Union felt that despite the high-risk contacts testing negative in the Rapid Antigen Test, it is still not safe for the people to visit the PHC.
The KSU also suggested that the contacts need to be confirmed with an RT-PCR test.
Syiemlieh expressed surprise on how could the pharmacist flee the quarantine centre and move freely, blatantly violating the government-issued guidelines and directives.
He said the Union seconds the stance of Ranikor MLA, Pius Marwein, who said the person should be punished for causing hurdles to the people of the district and also for playing havoc with the hard work of the District Administration and village authorities.
“Therefore, we urged upon the District Administration to file a complaint against the pharmacist for violating the norms and putting the people of the district in trouble,” Syiemlieh said.