Residents of the border areas of Keran and Machil in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district have once again appealed to the government to post gynaecologists in their areas so that the hardships being faced by them may end.
The residents said that the New Type Primary Health Centre (NTPHC) in Keran has been functioning without a gynaecologist for years, forcing pregnant women to travel visit Sub District Hospital (SDH) Kralpora or Kupwara for treatment.
“The lack of gynaecologist in Keran has become a major concern and during winter the pregnant women face immense hardships when the Keran-Kupwara road remains closed due to heavy snowfall for several days,” Ferhad a local youth told Greater Kashmir.
“At the time of emergencies, patients are often carried on makeshift cots to Ferkin Top by walking almost 15 kilometres before they can be shifted to hospitals,” he added. The residents said that they have repeatedly urged the Health Department to post a gynaecologist at NTPHC Keran, but their demand has remained unaddressed over the last several decades.
A similar situation is being witnessed in Machil, where locals said that the Primary Health Centre (PHC) Duddi lacks specialist maternal healthcare services.
Former sarpanch Habibullah Machil told Greater Kashmir that the absence of a gynaecologist has caused immense hardship for women in the remote area.
“The PHC has only a few doctors, and every time we approach the authorities for a gynaecologist, we are told that no such post exists at the hospital. Border residents deserve access to basic maternal healthcare like people living elsewhere,” he said.
Residents of both Keran and Machil appealed to the Health Department and the government to create and fill gynaecologist posts at the two health centres, saying timely access to maternal healthcare is essential for safeguarding the lives of mothers and newborns in these remote border areas.
“We appeal to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to kindly depute gynaecologists in our areas atleast for two days a week if not for the whole week so that we may feel some relief,” they added.
