With the first snowfall of the year 2019, at around 8:30 pm, I received a call from a dear friend. In a worried voice he asked me to come down to his house with my vehicle, as his mother was unwell. I rushed to his place. Although reaching there was bit difficult as I had to pass through a paramilitary force camp that was put into action few days before.
One I was there, I saw my friend coming out with his mother. Myfriend drove the car in intense cold and complete darkness to reach thehospital.
Finally we reached the Community Health Centre Hajin. We got the ticket and headed towards the doctor’s chamber. It was fully occupied. For some reasons our interaction with the doctor wasn’t so pleasant. Anyway, we headed towards the laboratory of the hospital. My friend looked for the technician and briefed him about the investigations the patient was supposed to undergo, but to our surprise a man among them authoritatively said that “these can’t be done now, which further infuriated us. “What are you here for then?, my friend asked. Replying to that the man there said, “For that you must talk to the concerned officer.”
Then we met the lab technician who was on the night duty. We briefed him about the investigations for which he demanded half an hour, so that he could wash the machine prior to investigations. When my friend asked “why didn’t you wash it the whole day? With all his arrogance he answered, ” talk to the concerned medical officer. Give me his cell number, I want to talk to him?” Replying to that he said, “I don’t have his number.” Finally, he started the machine.
We decided then to take our patient to a female ward, the beds ofwhich were almost occupied. Most of the occupants were suffering from an acutelabour pain, but there was hardly any one present to take care of the patients.
The very next day, I met a few employees of the CHC Hajin, whofurther explained the plight of the hospital. “The X-ray machine doesn’t workand remains out of order most of the times, even experts say it has renderedits service”. He further told me the Ultrasonography machine gives wrongreports.
Another employ revealed more by saying, that “the hospitalpremises have become hub for illegal and illicit activities.” He furtherrevealed that gamblers, and drug addicts consider CHC Hajin a safer place forconducting their activities.
Most of the employs of CHC Hajin are happy with their BlockMedical Officer. They consider him gentle and humble, someone who never bossesany of his subordinates. The other Medical officer of CHC Hajin, worked thesame way.
The question is that why can’t we upgrade the infrastructure ofout hospitals, and have adequate human resource in place.
Conclusion
I was in no mood to write down my experience, but my conscience goaded me to do it for the sake of those poor people who cannot afford costly clinics.