The government primary health care centre at DJ Halli is functioning without a full-time paediatrician, a public health professional working in the impoverished neighbourhood alleged.
The government has ordered the posting of a full-time pediatrician and provision of medicines, but no health officials are available to attend to poor patients, said Dr Sylvia Karpagam of Jana Arogya Andolana, Karnataka.
Speaking to Express, she recalled that Meghala (6) had died six months ago of malnutrition, following which the Health and Women and Child Development departments had promised to address the staff problem. “We conducted a screening camp among anganwadi children and found more than 40 per cent of them malnourished,” she said.
Not only that, many mothers are not treated at the primary health care centre. There is only a temporary doctor who started coming from December 16.
She cited the example of Shabreen, in her early 20s. “When she was pregnant, she was asked by the primary health care centre to go to Bowring Hospital. Her child is weak and has sepsis and meningitis,” said Dr Karpagam.
Shabreen reportedly ended up spending `20,000. “Bowring Hospital asked her to move out, saying painting work was on. She is now at the CSI Hospital,” said Dr Karpagam.