NAVIN JHA
navin@herald-goa.com
CORTALIM: The old Cansaulim Health Centre (CHC) severely lacked in facilities to treat residents of the South Goa village. The demand for the upgradation of the CHC was finally accepted by the concerned authorities. However, the implementation of the project has put the residents of Cansaulim and the nearby villages in even more hardship than before.
The state administration took cognizance of citizen’s plea and decided to upgrade the CHC and demolished the old structure a few months ago. The existing facilities were shifted to a temporary location with the promise that the new CHC would commence soon after the previous structure was demolished and a new one built. The reality of the situation however, is different. “Not a single stone has been placed. There is no sign of a new building. We have no clue as to why the work is delayed when the people are facing problems at the makeshift arrangements,” said Cansaulim villager, Arsenio D’Silva
Today the residents from in and around Cansaulim – Arossim – Cuelim village panchayats area are facing extreme hardships due to the non-availability of proper medical services at night at the primary health centre which has been moved to Arossim from Cansaulim. People from the villages of Cansaulim, Arossim, Velsao, Cuelim, Utorda, Colva, Consua, Calata, Seraulim, Betalbatim, Cana, Benaulim and Majorda apart from slum-dwellers of Birla, Zuarinagar and Zorint depend on the facilities at the CHC. The facilities at the makeshift centre aren’t adequate and hence create a problem for a lot of people. “The CHC opens at 8 am and shuts at 6:00 pm like any other government office. The non-availability of ambulance facilities and other amenities makes life more miserable,” said Savio Dias, a Panch member from Cansaulim village Panchayat.
The old CHC used to function around the clock but the new temporary centre at Arossim shuts by 6pm. Hence, there are no medical facilities at night. Locals also alleged that the staff of the makeshift health centre is far from punctual. Expressing their concerns over the timing of the health centre, the village Panchayat body and other villagers have demanded that it should operate for 24 hours till the new health centre is completed and inaugurated.
The locals also went on to say that there was no need to demolish the entire structure which existed from the time of the Portuguese era. The foundation stone for the upgradation of the Primary Health Centre was laid on February 25, by the former Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar in the presence of local MLA and Environment Minister, Alina Saldanha and others. The project is proposed to be built through the GSIDC and is a two-storey building on an area of 2,510 sq meters, with a built up area of 3,849 sq meters. It will be built at a cost of Rs 8 crores.
Locals said there was no need to demolish the whole Cansaulim PHC structure as it existed since Portuguese days. The foundation stone for the up gradation of the PHC was laid on February 25, by former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in the presence of local MLA and Environment Minister Alina Saldanha and others. The project is proposed to be built through GSIDC and is a two-storey building on an area of 2,510 sq meters, with a built-up area of 3,849 sq meters and it will be built at a cost of Rs 8 crore.
