Tamenglong protest against shortage of doctor

From Our Correspondent

TAMENGLONG | Sept 12

In protest against the transferred of two doctors from district hospital Tamenglong despite of acute shortage of doctors in district, civil voluntary organisations (CVOs) of Tamenglong today burnt the effigies of minister of Health, Family welfare, Law and legislative, Art and culture, L. Jayanta Kumar and Health director of Manipur.

The civil voluntary organisations also formed a Joint Action Forum (JAF) of Tamenglong today after series of meeting. The forum today organised health awareness programme at main market shed of the district. During the awareness programme all shops and vehicles movement were shut down. It was also announced to close down all government offices in the district headquarters from today midnight.

The CVOs of Tamenglong earlier served ultimatum setting 72 hours to chief minister of Manipur for immediate fulfilment of the charter of demands. However, no response has been made. The joint meeting was held yesterday and decided to organise awareness programme today and launch series of agitation.

The charter of demands included, passing a ‘stay order’ of the transfer of doctors and specialists of Tamenglong District Hospital until a replacement for the same is made, to fulfil the guidelines laid down in the Indian Public Health Standard (IPHS) for a District Hospital in which at least 20 doctors, 45 paramedical staff, 12 administrative staff, five staff in Operation Theatre, four staff in Blood Storage Unit and three staff in Post Mortem Unit.

Another demand was for replacement and upgrade of all equipment and infrastructural facilities that are outdated and redundant.

In the meantime, the forum issued a press statement signed by convener of JAF, Atana, in which the forum strongly condemned the transferred of two doctors and stated that the transferred order is insensitive, discriminatory and inhuman.

The present BJP led government have been following the policy of subjugating and suppressing to annihilate the people of Tamenglong by neglecting to address issues of the people especially in health sector, said the statement.

It further stated that the Tamenglong district hospital has been understaffed with only 37 beds and 11 doctors against 20 doctors needed including 13 specialists and seven MOs as per Indian Public Health Standard (IPHS).

Moreover, blood storage unit, post-partum unit and operation unit have practically rendered no service. Practically there is no equipment or facilities to give service on imaging equipment and accessories. Also, there is no practical cardiopulmonary, labour and neo natal, ENT, dental equipment to provide minimal standard of service, it added.

The statement also mentioned that a baby was born still on September 10 as the pregnant mother who was referred to Imphal for delivery had already crossed nine months. The incident happened within 10 days of the issued order of utilisation of Gynae MO to Nungba CHC. There are numerous such incidents that went unreported.

JAF has demanded to provide health care facilities at a standard as per the IPHS ranging from man power to doctors, along with modern equipment and accessories and all the facilities prescribed under the IPHS.

It further stated that the government of Manipur should take sole responsibility and pay adequate compensation for the deceased baby and take swift measures to fulfil the demand. The forum is compelled to launch strong agitation and any untoward incident that might occur will be solely held responsible by the government, it added.