To say that there is no negligence of Mon District Hospital as commented by Minister for Health & Family Welfare Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu during the recently held Assembly Session is cheeky to say the least. If there has been no negligence then what was the need to hand over the running of the hospital to the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF). It is equally embarrassing to note that the government of the day has abdicated its responsibility to the MSF. So just consider this: On being asked by the Opposition Congress the reason for negligence of Mon Hospital, the Minister replied “The department feels that there is no negligence of Mon District Hospital.” The minister also stated during the reply that the government had taken step for Mon District Hospital on July 20 in the form of signing MoU between the state government and Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) where MSF has been entrusted to take over Mon District Civil Hospital. “Taking step for Mon District Hospital” is another way of stating the obvious, which is that the government has failed in its duty therefore the MSF will rescue the poor hospital. Mind you the MSF is doing yeoman service around the world. Lucky Mr Minister, MSF will be providing all the services free of cost. So now after handing duties to the MSF, the Minister is “hopeful that within next 3-4 years time, Mon District Hospital will become one of the best hospitals in the state”, a feat that the Health & Family Welfare Department could not achieve. So very nice isn’t it. It’s another matter that the Minister after denying any negligence in the same session made the offer that the department would “seriously look into whatever lapse there was in the Mon District Hospital”.
The point though is this. There are enough funds available to run our hospital and health care service in the State. For instance during the Assembly Session the Minister had himself informed that the total amount sanctioned and released for Mon Hospital during 2008-09 and 2009-10 stands at Rs. 11378000 and Rs. 10873000 respectively. The minister also furnished the detail of total fund and materials released for Mon District Hospital. Going by the figures, there is no reason to complain that funds are not available. The problem boils down to this i.e. lack of vision and commitment on the part of the concern department. The reality is that the rural health care in the State is in doldrums. Public memory is short but on many occasions such negligence, which the Minister denies, has been reported in the local media. The neglect is all too familiar with the concerned authority having done little about it for many years except for the occasional photo opportunity in the media. In fact this is a good opportunity for Health Minister to take a thorough review of health services across the State and more so in the block and primary level health centers and district hospitals. It’s time to get back to work from the long summer break. After the sunny escape to South Africa, maybe Mon district hospital deserves a visit from the Minister. To do a reality check similar stops should be made across all the district hospitals.
