CHORAO
The 108 ambulance service was meant to provide quick and effective paramedic services in the State, but residents of Chorao Island have been deprived of this facility since the last six months after the lone 108 ambulance was withdrawn from the island.
Efforts are now being initiated by Dy Speaker and local MLA Anant Shet as well as the panchayat to restore 108 ambulance facilities in the island.
The problem was felt most recently when a resident from Chorao was injured in an assault a few days ago. When relatives called for a 108 ambulance, they were told that the nearest ambulance was at Mapusa, over 10 kms away, and that it would take some time to cross the river and reach the site at Chorao. Left with no option, the injured person was shifted to hospital in a private vehicle.
Enquiries later revealed that the 108 ambulance service, which was allotted to Chorao Island by former health minister Vishwajeet Rane on December 23, 2011, was suddenly withdrawn from the island due to shortage of manpower and other facilities.
The 108 was shifted to another place without any intimation to the residents or the local panchayat. Residents are now forced to hire private vehicles to reach the nearest hospital, as it takes a long time for the nearest 108 ambulance from either Mapusa or Sanquelim to reach the island.
Speaking to Herald, 108 ambulance quality in-charge Pratishta Mudrak said there is a shortage of technical manpower and added that there were no residential facilities for the staff at Chorao island.
“The 108 paramedics on duty, especially the ladies, face a lot of problems. The panchayat has assured that a room in the old panchayat building, which is under repairs, will be allotted to the 108 ambulance staff. If both these demands are met, we will immediately resume the 108 ambulance service on Chorao Island,” Mudrak told Herald.
Former Chorao sarpanch Requeta Colaco recalled that the 108 service had been of great helped to the people, especially at night. “People are now aggrieved that the 108 ambulance facility has been stopped. It is the duty of the panchayat to ensure that the 108 ambulance service is resumed on the island,” said Colaco.
Added another former sarpanch Prasad Chodankar, “When I was the Chorao sarpanch, I had requested the then health minister to provide a 108 ambulance to the Chorao islanders, as we are not connected to the mainland.”
“The demand was fulfilled, but it was discontinued some months ago. I am continuously pursuing this matter and I have been told that the 108 ambulance will resume shortly as the local panchayat has arranged for proper accommodation for the 108 paramedics,” he said.
When contacted, Chodan-Madel Panch Shamba Kalangutkar confirmed that the 108 ambulance service had been withdrawn since the past six months.
“We know that our people are suffering in the absence of this service. The 108 paramedics need proper accommodation if they are to provide 24-hour service to the people. The panchayat has renovated its old building and it will be inaugurated shortly. We have assured the 108 ambulance officials that we will provide accommodation in the renovated building. Once this problem is resolved, we are confident at the 108 ambulance will return to the island,” said Kalangutkar.
Admitting that he was aware of the problem faced by residents of Chorao Island, Deputy Speaker and local MLA Anant Shet has assured to act in the matter.
“I am aware of the difficulty in Chorao Island as the 108 ambulance is not functioning at Chorao Island for many months. The accommodation for the technical staff and other manpower will be sorted out. If this is not met, then I will try to provide a 108 ambulance to operate at night for now, so that the Chorao islanders get some relief,” assured Shet.
