State planning to strengthen PHCs in Adilabad

With complaints pouring against the functioning of Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and shortage of staff, the state government is preparing strategies to streamline the system in the district.

ADILABAD: With complaints pouring against the functioning of Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and shortage of staff, the state government is preparing strategies to streamline the system in the district. Health and Family Welfare commissioner Vakati Karuna, during her visit to the district held a review meeting with medical and health staff and directed them to take steps to streamline and strengthen all PHCs in the district. She also directed district medical and health officer to collect details of every PHC staff, revenue villages and their distance from the nearest PHC.
Most of the villagers are not showing any interest to approach nearby PHCs as they lack facilities and doctors and other paramedical staff are not available round the clock.

Take the case of Gimma PHC which is 16 kms away from the district headquarters. This PHC covers 25 revenue villages having a population of  around 23,278. In the last more than 12 years in this PHC not even a single delivery has taken place.
The 25 revenue villages covered include Gimma, Korratta, Guda, Boraj, Rampur, Mandagada, Piparwada, Junnapani, Mangurlla, Sathnala, Mamidguda, Sundragiri and Jharijameeni.
The villagers of Gimma, Korratta, Guda, Boraj, Rampur, Mandagada and Piparwada prefer to go to RIMS Government Hospital or private hospitals than the local PHC.

Apart from this, the tribal hamlets like Junnapani, Mangurlla, Sathnala, Mamidguda, Jharjameeni and Sundaragiri which fall under this PHC are 30 km away making it difficult for the tribal patients to visit it for treatment. From these villages, the neighbouring village Syedpur PHC is 5 km and RIMS Government Hospital is 15 km.
“How can we go to Gimma PHC by crossing Adilabad town,” asks a villager. The outpatients ratio is also very less and even in single digit number because the PHC is completely in one corner of the habitation.

Bela PHC covers 24 revenue villages with just one doctor treating over 100 outpatients. Even Syedpur PHC covering a population of 11,915 is functioning with two doctors only. Similarly, Jhari  PHC which has 13,161 population under its jurisdiction is working with three doctors.

In some PHCs the results of outpatient and delivery cases is good, but the doctors’ ratio is less there while OP and delivery cases are less in those PHCs where the number of doctors and other staff is high. In some PHCs in Kumram Bheem and Mancheiral districts, some doctors maintain two PHCs on deputation.
According to official sources, in united Adilabad district there were 72 PHCs with about 173 medical officers sanctioned. Out of this 144 doctors are working and 29 posts are vacant. The other vacancies are 14 posts of staff nurses, 116 multi purpose health workers (MPHA) male, 153 female MPHA and 63 APMO (LEP and Aids).

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