Call to revamp facilities at Williamnagar CH

TURA, May 18: GHADC MDC from Williamnagar, Alphonsush Marak, on Tuesday urged Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to equip Williamnagar Civil Hospital, the lone hospital in the district, with adequate medical facilities and staff to ensure that the hospital is able to cope with the requirements during the ongoing pandemic.
In his memorandum to the chief minister, Marak said that the hospital is lagging behind in terms of medical supplies and equipment much to the dismay of the people of the district.
“The hospital has only two non-evasive ventilators and 14 B type oxygen cylinders which is not enough during this deteriorating situation. There are only 30 beds in Covid-19 Ward out of which 6 beds are allotted for Intensive Care Unit, 2 beds for maternity ward and the remaining 22 beds dedicated for General Ward (male and female),” Marak said.
Marak added that the hospital also faces a shortage of staff like nurses and drivers including the absence of a dedicated ambulance for COVID-19 patients, which could lead to further worsening of the present situation. “Besides the shortage of nurses, there are only two ambulance drivers and they are compelled to carry out their duties for both COVID and non-COVID cases,” Marak said, adding that the matter requires immediate intervention of the state government.
Marak also pointed to the absence of a radiologist at the hospital compelling patients to travel to Tura or other places despite the hospital having an ultrasonography machine. In addition, Marak added that the hospital lacks other medical specialists like Anaesthetist and Orthopaedists whose services are much needed during this situation.
Stating that the healthcare needs to be improved in each district to combat the ongoing pandemic, Marak urged the chief minister to take steps to provide all necessary facilities to the hospital to safeguard the lives of the people.