Dimapur, July 4 (MExN): A reflection of the general condition of Nagaland’s medical standing, only one doctor is posted for the Community Health Center (CHC), Medziphema while the Community Health Officer (CHO) is an attached officer “from somewhere”. And no, the CHC’s sickness isn’t that effortless to be ended there.
By national norms Medziphema CHC merits 30 beds, 4 specialists namely, surgical specialist, Medical specialist, Child specialist (Pediatrician) and Maternity and Gynecology specialist. It is also entitled a Community Health Officer who may be non-medical personnel. From the records of the recent past 2 to 3 doctors (2 doctors against the health centre and 1 doctor against the Family Welfare centre) were posted to man the then Public Health Center, according to Dr K Hoshi recently posted to the CHC, April.
The dearth of medical officers and facilities at Medziphema town, one of the most important transit outposts in Nagaland and located right on NH-39 where every VVIP/VIP worth his designation passes through, remains a constant energy-draining, time-sapping malady. The CHC has only 12 beds as against the national norm of 30 beds and has no clear-cut staffing pattern and in fact, it is over-staffed except for doctors, according to Dr K Hoshi, attached with the CHC. (The doctor, after writing several times to the concern authorities and receiving no response, went public with the disturbing statistics finding no other option).
“The daily ordeal of activities include an OPD turnover of 50 to 60 patients on average, indoor patients management, round-the-clock emergency duty, 2 dozen monthly reports and returns, implementation of some six major health programs, general administration, outstation duties, etc, etc” Dr Hoshi lamented. “As far as patient care is concerned, it looks more like a medical camp everyday that takes away eighty percent of my working time. (Doctor-patient ratio-wise I can examine and treat 20-25 patients only within the given working time. This is so because every patient that comes to me merits thorough examination that takes 10-15 minutes for each patient)” he continued. With other paper works to complete as well, Dr Hoshi can leave the hospital only by 2.30 to 3.00pm only to be called again to attend to emergency patients. “Emergency calls in the wee hours of the night are routine” he reminded.
“The ordeal has been continuing since I joined in first week of April this year. Two times I have written to the higher authority but so far no action. That’s how I decided it’s high time to go public. I thought this CHC being along the NH-39 is everybody’s concern. But it doesn’t seem so. Every VIP/VVIP passes through this highway. So, I know for sure that if anything goes wrong in NH-39 it is this VIP/VVIP people who will harass me and my staff for not doing enough. Then I will say, well I wish I have two heads and eight hands” the doctor lamented.
The medical officer however, also felt a part of the responsibility belongs to the public as well “The fact that this CHC is a communitized health centre means that the public will have to wake up and take care of their own affairs.
Though the department is not supposed to act only on the complaint of the public if the public is indifferent to their own problems naturally, the department will slumber” Dr Hoshi stated.
The Community Health Centre in Medziphema town is strategically located just on the NH-39. Probably, it is one of the earliest health units as it came into being much before Nagaland attained Statehood. By genesis it was first established as a Dispensary, then upgraded to Primary Health Centre and now designated (in paper) as Community Health Centre. It became a communitized CHC in the year 2000, the first in Nagaland.
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