QUEPEM: Finally, after a long wait of ten-odd years Quepekars will get a full-fledged 24 × 7 health services in Quepem Primary Health Centre.
The Health Minister has instructed his officers to provide the required infrastructure and other health facilities to the Quepem Health Centre immediately and if everything goes smoothly and as per plan, the Health Centre will be shifted to a new promises.
Since last ten years a newly-constructed Health Centre building was waiting use. Local MLA and leader of opposition along with locals made hundreds of representation to provide 24 × 7 health facilities to locals. Chairperson of Quepem Municipal Council Rahul Pereira even threatened the health department to protest, if their demand of providing health facilities is not met.
Taking the cognisance of the Issue Health Minister Vishwajit Rane had called a meeting with the Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar and Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias. The Health Director, Medical officer of Balli Health Centre and Quepem Health Centre were also present for meeting along with other health officials.
In the meeting both, Kavlekar and Dias had demanded upgradation of both health centres.
Quepem Health Centre was not working for 24×7 as there were no facilities of beds. During the Congress government Kavlekar had initiated the construction of the Health Centre building at Quepem and Balli to provide 25-bed hospital with all facilities to Quepekar.
However, the building remained unutilised for the past ten years.
Finally, the Health Minister succumbed to public pressure and decided to shift Health Centre to the new building.
The Health Minister after the discussion with Leader of opposition and Cuncolim MLA instructed his department to provide basic facilities to Quepem PHC and Balli PHC.
Quepem health Centre will get five more staff nurses, besides five more assistants will be appointed. The Health Minister also promised to appoint a full-time doctor. The Health Department has also decided to outsource the kitchen services. A semi auto-analyser will be provided to strengthen the laboratory services. It was also decided to adhere to the norms of AERB and necessary renovation will be made to start X-Ray facilities. A radiologist will visit twice-a-week and gynaecologist and Paediatrician will visit once a week in Quepem Health Centre.
Balli Health Centres Laboratory services will also be upgraded and gynaecologist and paediatrician will visit Balli once-a-week. Quepekars are likely to get this ‘gift’ from January 1.
