Shopian, Oct 21 (KNO): Residents of Zainapora and adjoining areas of south Kashmir's Shopian district have urged the government to upgrade the Community Health Centre (CHC) Zainapora by strengthening its infrastructure, ensuring adequate manpower and introducing essential diagnostic and specialised services, saying the facility caters to a large population and serves as a crucial healthcare institution for the area.
Residents have called for round-the-clock X-ray services, installation of laparoscopic equipment, ultrasound (USG) facilities, adequate deployment of doctors and paramedical staff, comprehensive laboratory testing services, and the immediate operationalisation of a dialysis centre inaugurated months ago but still not functional.
They said the lack of adequate diagnostic and specialised treatment facilities forces patients to travel to other hospitals for investigations and procedures, resulting in additional financial expenses, delays in treatment and considerable inconvenience for patients and their attendants.
According to the residents, CHC Zainapora caters to people from several adjoining villages, making the strengthening of its healthcare services essential. They said a community health centre serving such a large population should be equipped with the necessary infrastructure, modern medical equipment and sufficient manpower to provide timely and accessible healthcare, particularly during emergencies.
"The hospital caters to a large population from Zainapora and adjoining areas, but people continue to face difficulties when they require certain investigations and specialised medical services. The government should assess the existing facilities and ensure that all essential services are available here so that patients do not have to travel long distances for treatment," residents told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
The residents stressed the need for round-the-clock X-ray services, stating that diagnostic facilities must remain available to deal with medical emergencies at any time. They said patients suffering from fractures, injuries and other conditions requiring immediate radiological investigations should not have to wait for the availability of services or be referred elsewhere merely because the necessary facilities are unavailable.
"Medical emergencies do not follow a fixed schedule. If a patient arrives at night with an injury or requires an urgent investigation, the necessary diagnostic facility should be available. We demand round-the-clock X-ray services at CHC Zainapora so that patients can receive timely medical attention," they said.
The residents also sought the introduction of ultrasound facilities, stating that USG examinations are important for diagnosing several medical conditions, including abdominal disorders and pregnancy-related complications, and that their availability locally would reduce the need for patients to visit distant hospitals or private diagnostic centres.
The residents further demanded the installation of laparoscopic equipment and the strengthening of surgical facilities at CHC Zainapora, saying modern medical equipment, supported by trained specialists and the necessary infrastructure, could help expand the range of services available and reduce referrals for cases that can be managed locally.
They also called for comprehensive laboratory testing facilities, saying patients should be able to undergo essential investigations at the health centre without having to visit multiple facilities. "Patients from economically weaker backgrounds often find it difficult to bear the additional expenses of travelling to other places and paying for tests," they said, emphasising that the installation of equipment must be accompanied by the deployment of qualified technicians, doctors and other trained personnel.
The residents expressed concern over the delay in operationalising the dialysis centre at CHC Zainapora, which, they said, was inaugurated months ago but has yet to start providing services. They said the inauguration had raised hopes among patients suffering from kidney-related ailments that regular dialysis treatment would become available closer to their homes, but the delay has left patients continuing to face difficulties in accessing treatment.
"The dialysis centre was inaugurated months ago, and people expected that patients would soon start receiving treatment there. However, the facility is yet to become functional. It is disappointing that patients continue to travel elsewhere despite a centre having already been inaugurated at the local health facility," residents said.
They urged the Health and Medical Education Department to look into the reasons behind the delay and ensure that all necessary arrangements, including the installation and commissioning of equipment and deployment of trained technicians and medical staff, are completed without further delay.
Apart from diagnostic equipment and specialised services, residents sought adequate deployment of doctors, specialists, nurses, laboratory technicians and other paramedical staff, saying infrastructure and machinery alone cannot improve healthcare delivery unless sufficient trained personnel are available.
They appealed to the Health and Medical Education Department and the district administration to take up the matter on priority and prepare a comprehensive plan for upgrading CHC Zainapora, stating that improved diagnostic services, adequate manpower, modern medical equipment and the operationalisation of the dialysis centre would help reduce unnecessary referrals and improve access to healthcare.
Meanwhile, a health official said 24×7 X-ray facilities have already started at the hospital, while for the rest of the things, they have written to higher-ups and such facilities are expected to remain available soon. Regarding the dialysis centre, the official said two doctors are undergoing training for dialysis and after their training is completed, patients will get dialysis facilities—(KNO)