The Works

| 2005 |

Virlossa Sub-Health Centre lacks basic facilities

When patients went to the Sub-Health Centre (SHC) at Virlossa in Penha-da-Franca during the last three months, they were advised to carry with them a bottle of dettol. “We were told to bring a dettol bottle with us as the sub-health centre did not have dettol,” informed a patient. Sandwiched between two classrooms at a government primary school building at Virlossa-Britona, the building is only a part of the dismal state of the one-room sub

In the absence of storage facilities, medicines are placed on the window sill at the Virlossa sub health centre.

 health Centre.

The Verlossa SHC, which comes under the jurisdiction of the Aldona Primary Health Centre (PHC), is managed by an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM), Male Basic Health Worker and an attendent.

While a lone and age-old cupboard houses files and records of the SHC as well as many medicines, other medicines are placed by the window sill and on a bench, with DHS banners as makeshift table cloths, behind the cupboard.

A kerosene stove, which lies in one corner of the room serves to sterilise needles, while the steel bed for examining patients is draped in a cloth

filled with stains, though the staff insist that the bedsheet is washed regularly.

That the SHC lacks the basic facilities is evident from the fact that the Virlossa SHC is not even equipped with a telephone. In times of emergency, the Virlossa SHC staff can only contact the Aldona PHC by making calls from a coin-slot payphone down the road.

A health official speaking on condition of anonymity claimed that the authorities should have focussed on secondary health institutions instead of sub-health centres and primary health centres.

“Adequate funds and major facilities should have been provided to the district hospitals. People should realise that a SHC or a PHC is a place that only offers first aid and primary care, besides engaging in immunisation and preventive programmes. The district hospitals are essentially for curative purposes,” the official said.

“But since the facilities are not always available at the district hospitals, patients sent to the district hospitals are immediately shifted to the Goa Medical College Hospital at Bambolim. This puts undue pressure on the GMC,” the official added.

The official also attributed the neglect of many PHCs to the location of these hospitals.

“The Aldona PHC, for example, is located barely 6-7 kms from the Asilo hospital in Mapusa. Hence, most patients from in and around Aldona prefer to go to the Asilo hospital,” the official said.

“Unfortunately,” the official added, “most politicians have given little thought while chosing a site for a PHC. Just because there is a population of about 40,000 to 50,000 in an area, a PHC is set up, irrespective of whether it is close to a district hospital or not.”

When contacted, Dr Prakash Kanekar, Deputy Director of Medical Stores Depot at the Directorate of Health Services admitted that there was a shortage in the supply of spirit.

He however denied that there was a shortage of dettol and claimed that there had been no pending order from the Aldona PHC.

“Even if there were any shortage, the Aldona PHC has the power to make local purchases to tide over an emergency situation,” explained Dr Kanekar.

Admitting a shortage in denatured spirit, Dr Lawanis, health officer at the Aldona PHC, told Herald that efforts are on to procure essential items for all eight SHCs that come under the jurisdiction of the Aldona PHC.

“I don’t think there is short supply of dettol. I admit there is short supply of spirit and I made local purchase for the sub-health centres. The last time, I made local purchase for denatured spirit. But there is a limit of Rs 1,000. These bills have to be sent to accounts section and cheques are then issued to the shops,” explained Dr Lawanis.

“Such formalities can take over a month and some shopkeepers are reluctant to supply us on credit. But since I take personal interest, payments are to them within a month,” Dr Lawanis added.

“But if there is further shortage in essential supplies, I will make all the necessary arrangements,” assured Dr Lawanis.

Dr Lawanis however stated that telephones were not necessary for each sub-health centre, “as the staff can easily catch a bus and come to the Aldona PHC. SHCs are mainly for preventive cases and not for emergency cases.”

The Aldona Health Officer admitted that the Virlossa SHC lacked better premises.

“I have been asking the panchayat as well as locals for better premises for a long time. But there has been no help either from the panchayat or locals. No one came forward to offer better space at reasonable rates,” explained Dr Lawanis.

Despite the limited space, Dr Lawanis was quick to point out that the Virlossa SHC premises were far better than the previous premises.

“In fact, the earlier room allotted to the SHC at Britona was in a worse condition. There was no toilet and no proper water supply. In comparison, this room is in far better shape,” informed Dr Lawanis.

Following the visit by the Herald team, health officials went to the Verlossa SHC and made available dettol and spirit, while medicines were removed from the window sill and were placed in the cupboard.

[Comments on this report]

To comment on this report, please Click Here to contact Melvyn Misquita.