Neshwin Almeida
CURTORIM: All is not hunky-dory at Curtorim Primary Health Centre and locals, specially the poor, needy and aged, have decried the lack of attention by concerned authorities to ensure that the centre not only provides services effectively, but also get its act together on various fronts.
On a rainy day if you set out to get a health certificate from the health centre or opt for a check-up or try to locate a sanitary officer, you may end up disappointed and disgruntled.
The ‘health’ of the health centre too does not look encouraging, as it seems neglected, displaying a dilapidating administrative building that has weeds growing all over, besides becoming a favourite haunt of stray pigs that have found the unkempt building to its liking.
What’s more, if you ask for the Sanitary Officer, you will seldom find him on his seat.
The situation, that looked grim, has obviously worsened during rains, where leaking roofs leak, puddles along pathways and even the fear of the old building collapsing looms large.
“Diabetics like me completely depend on the primary health centre and the doctor on duty is sometimes unavailable though we travel from far to get here,” Albertina Costa from Curtorim explains with anguish in her voice. Like Albertina, many other patients who visit the health centre also have grievances about the shortage of medicines and vaccines.
Serving a population of 53,453 over six sub-centres and six panchayats, the public health centre reaches out to a rural population who find it difficult to travel to Hospicio or Goa Medical College to avail free treatment.
However, despite starting an Ayush Department and providing additional services, the dearth of doctors, lack of proper sitting area and waiting rooms for patients and unhygienic compound constantly irks the locals.
Those that visit the centre frequently now hope their MLA Reginaldo Lourenco would take up the issue and ensure that things are taken care of immediately, specially important facilities that need urgent action.
“The office is often short-staffed and the sanitary officers frequently delay in carrying out inspection of business premises and eateries, which eventually leads to delays in getting permissions,” George Dias from Maina- Curtorim emphasised displaying helplessness.
Speaking to this correspondent, the health centre in-charge Dr Rajendra Borkar explained that upgradation of the Curtorim primary health centre had not been announced or discussed by the government yet. He also added that no discussion for any additional services too had taken place.
“My demand is that the government should fill up the vacant posts immediately, as there is an acute shortage of staff, doctors and attendants at the health centre. We hope the government identifies this concern,” he said, giving his perception.
