From Biplab Kr Dey
Resubelpara, June 17: Welcome to the Korepara Health Sub Centre – a few kilometres drive from one of the principal villages of North Garo Hills (NGH) – Bajengdoba.
The sub centre was recently in the limelight after a civil society organisation (CSO) went for a site visit and posted a few videos of the same online. Another visit on Monday along with a few villagers showed exactly why the sub centre belongs to the annals of shame for health in the state.
Health and wellness centres focus on promoting overall well-being through a combination of preventative care, health education, and treatment services. They aim to empower individuals to take control of their health by providing access to medical care, fitness programmes, nutritional guidance, and stress management techniques
The Korepara Health Sub centre, as per locals, was set up more than 30 years ago. It caters to at least 7 villages in and around the area and a population, according to locals, numbering at least 1000. The next sub centre, about 5 kms away, falls in the village of Samkalakgre under the same C&RD Block.
Present Situation of the Sub – centre: The sub centre, which as per locals, has never been repaired since it was set, up stands as a ruin (pictures and videos attached). The centre has no electricity, water or even a decent toilet. The only toilet available is so small that even a fully grown person will not fit in – forget about patients that come to the centre for medical support.
Further the compound does not have any staff quarters which has meant that nurses that are supposed to attend to patients have to take up accommodation elsewhere.
In the duration of the visit, the centre was under lock and key – which was hardly required as every room either had missing windows or doors and in some cases – nothing at all.
Photos and videos taken from within the broken compound showed the entire false ceiling had already fallen to the ground. Of the 3-4 rooms that could be seen, only one room, which is presently being used by the staff, was fit enough to sit in. However, if the heavens open up, the centre has to shut shop with the staff scurrying for cover.
On the exterior side of the compound, almost all sides showed huge chunks of plaster peeling off with a major part of the roof broken in multiple places – with daylight shining through to show the leaks that have developed over time – especially due to the absence of repair. Most of the back section of the same compound was covered in moss.
What was even more startling was the fact that two small trees and a few shrubs are currently making a section of the roof their home.
“The building is in such a perilous state that it could fall at any time. Can anyone expect the nurses and other staff to stay in this place? It is a catastrophe waiting to happen. In this kind of environment, can anyone work and can patients undergo treatment? What about delivery cases? Can anyone really come to this dump that leaks all over and has literally no facilities to even look forward to,” asked a local from Korepara.
For residents and employees in and around the centre, the compound has become a nightmare of sorts.
“Despite its importance, the failing infrastructure gives everyone a headache. We earnestly urge upon the state’s health department to look into the situation before something untoward takes place and lives are unnecessarily lost. The building can’t be repaired anymore so the only choice is to set up a completely new structure that will live up to its billing of being a health and wellness centre,” felt another resident.
Meanwhile locals also pointed to what they called an extremely poor construction of an upcoming labour room that is being set up in the same compound. The project was apparently sanctioned more than 3 years ago and has not even been completed yet. However the construction has irked them for the quality of the materials being used as well as how badly the entire set up is.
“There are so many cracks already and this is just in the concrete stage. You can gauge the quality from the pieces of wood, plastic that are on show in the concrete. Further even the bricks that have been used are so poor in quality that even leaning on them makes them come off. They have hardly used cement in the construction. If anyone has a doubt and feel we are exaggerating, they are free to come and check for themselves. The contractor has cut corners and despite that, he hasn’t finished the project. We urge the government to take this up. We don’t want a similar building to the one we already have,” added another resident.
The poor quality bricks still remain at the construction site of the new project.