JAGATSINGHPUR: The change in name of Kujang Community Health Centre (CHC) has sparked resentment among the locals. The inauguration of newly-constructed hospital building has been delayed due to protests by locals.Sources said the Health and Family Welfare Department has recently demolished the dilapidated old structure of the CHC and constructed a three-storey building at an estimated cost of `72 lakh under NHRM. The department has decided to inaugurate the building soon.
Locals said former Kujang king Udyachand had donated 12 acres of land and opened the hospital at Kujang in the name of Udyachand Charitable Dispensary in 1893.
Later, it was handed over to the State Government and upgraded to a CHC in 1990. It was named after Kujang King Udyachand.
Two years back, the Government had sanctioned fund from NHRM for construction of a new building to provide better healthcare services to the patients. But, the authorities renamed it as Kujang CHC.
Protesting the move of the Government, members of Kujang Bar Association, Banika Sangha and locals staged demonstrations and demanded to name it after Kujang King Udyachand.
The newly constructed building has more than five rooms for OPD, laboratory and vaccine room, patients rest room, meeting hall and medical officer’s chamber.
President of Kujang Bar Association ND Yadav said, “While SCBMCH has been named after Sriram Chandra Bhanj Deo, we demand to rename the hospital after Kujang King for his memory.”
Medical Officer of Kujang CHC Prasanna Panda said, the CHC will be inaugurated after getting approval from the department.