Anantnag, Aug 25 (KNO): Residents of south Kashmir have urged the government to immediately begin construction work on the long-awaited 250-bedded Maternity and Child Care Hospital (MCCH) at Janglatmandi in Anantnag, saying that despite announcements, no progress has been made on the ground.
Speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), locals said that the project, which was announced earlier this year with an allocation of Rs 86 crore in the budget, was supposed to be completed within two years, but almost one year has already passed without any work starting.
“We only hear announcements in newspapers and on TV. Nothing has been done on the ground so far. If one year has already passed, when will the government actually construct it?” asked Abdul Rashid, a local.
Another local, Shabir Ahmad, said the hospital is a pressing need for the entire south Kashmir region. “The existing MCCH at Sherbagh is unsafe, overcrowded and completely unfit to cater to the patient rush. The new hospital at Janglatmandi must be constructed without wasting any more time,” he said.
In March this year, during the budget session, the government sanctioned funds for the project. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had announced that Rs 86 crore had been allocated for the construction of a modern 250-bed facility in Anantnag. However, the delay has left people frustrated and anxious about the safety of patients.
The Maternity and Child Care Hospital continues to function in an unsafe building in Sherbagh since 2014. The hospital caters not only to Anantnag but also to patients from Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian, Ramban and parts of the Chenab Valley.
Doctors said the existing building, already declared unsafe by the Fire and Services Department nearly a decade ago, is grossly inadequate to handle the patient load.
“Every night, more than 100 patients remain admitted in the labour and surgical wards, while thousands throng the OPD daily. With just limited labour wards, four surgical wards and a single operation theatre, the situation is unimaginable. Beds are placed in corridors, multiple patients share one bed, and the hospital remains noisy and overcrowded,” said a senior doctor.
Another official admitted that the unsafe condition of the building poses a constant threat. “If any mishap occurs, who will take responsibility? Patients and doctors are working in constant fear,” he said.
Officials, along with locals, asked whether the government was waiting for a major tragedy before waking up from its slumber.
According to locals, over the years, several proposals to shift the hospital have been abandoned midway. Seven years ago, authorities had decided to shift the hospital to the Rehmat-e-Alam building in Sarnal after spending nearly Rs 13 crore on its construction. But later, an IIT Jammu safety assessment declared the structure unsafe, and the plan was shelved.
The institute had recommended retrofitting of vital beams at a cost of around Rs 8 crore, but the proposal was never taken up, leaving the hospital to continue in its unsafe, congested premises
With over 50,000 patients visiting the OPD every month and around 10,000 indoor admissions, the need for a new hospital is being felt more than ever.
Residents said that every day, thousands of women, children and even patients from the Jammu division are forced to face hardships due to the lack of space and poor infrastructure.
“Maternal and child care is a sensitive issue. We cannot risk lives anymore. The government must immediately start construction work at Janglatmandi. Empty announcements won’t save lives,” said Mohammad Yousuf, another resident.
Notably, Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakina Itoo, during her recent visits to the hospital, admitted that the facility is in a dilapidated condition and assured that the issue is being addressed.
However, locals insist that only visible work on the ground will restore their confidence. “We appeal to the government to treat this project as a top priority. Anantnag and the entire south Kashmir cannot wait any longer,” they said—(KNO)