For Madvan village, primary health centre still a distant dream

Madvan, Dec 27 : There is no supply of safe drinking water in this village of district Bandipora in occupied Kashmir.

The electricity remains mostly off and roads are potholed. But what haunts villagers of this hamlet most is the lack of a hospital.
In 2010, the villagers saw a ray of hope when foundation stone for a primary health center was laid. But it was not to be.

The proposed primary health centre is yet to see light of the day with locals caught in a severe healthcare crisis.
Villagers said the local MLA had promised them that the health centre would be established soon. “But even after two years, not a single brick has come up,” they said.

The foundation stone of the proposed hospital, they said, was laid with much fanfare. “When the foundation stone was laid, various political leaders lectured on the need of having better healthcare in far-flung areas, but no one has shown up since then,” said a postgraduate student, Tanveer Ahmad. “It was purely for political interests that hospital’s foundation stone was laid. Then why the construction of the hospital is in limbo?” he asked.

The announcement of a primary health centre in Madvan had thrown up a pleasant surprise for locals but they have now lost hope in the government.

“Why is it that we are remembered only at election time,” the villagers asked. “We are suffering in need of a hospital. Nobody is considering it. The government has abandoned us- but only till elections,” said another local, Ghulam Muhammad.

The villagers said land for the construction of hospital was taken from a public Eidgah. “Neither is there a hospital nor Eidgah. The government’s negligence has taken away both the things from us. Not a single brick has been come up,” they said.

The locals said a delegation of villagers even went to the concerned MLA- who is also the Speaker of Legislative Assembly- but to no avail.

“Even though we went to concerned MLA, nothing has been done on the matter. We even apprised him about the grave conditions faced by the locals in absence of a hospital but our pleas were not heeded,” the locals said.

Asked where they go for treatment, the locals said they either go to Hajin or Sumbal or to private clinics. “Those of us who can afford go to private clinics while as those who cannot afford have to travel miles together for treatment,” said Ghulam Qadir, a government teacher.

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