SANGUEM: The Sanguem Primary Health Centre (PHC), a crucial medical facility for the entire taluka, has been operating without a generator for several months, causing distress to both the local community and staff members.
The situation is exacerbated by the fact that frequent power interruptions are a common occurrence in this town. Consequently, the medical staff is forced to examine and treat patients under battery-powered lamps or, at times, with torchlight.
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The predicament becomes especially concerning during nighttime power outages when accident victims are brought in with fractures or severe injuries requiring sutures. Medical procedures under such conditions are conducted using torchlight.
In response to pleas from the PHC staff, tenders have been issued twice to acquire generator sets. Unfortunately, there has been no response on both occasions, leaving the health centre without power back-up.
Gilbert Fernandes, Sanguem Block President of Revolutionary Goans, expressed his frustration, noting that appeals made to the Deputy Collector have failed to yield any results.
Patients admitted to the facility are particularly vulnerable during power failures at night, as mosquitoes become a nuisance. Many patients find themselves awake, using papers to fend off the buzzing mosquitoes.
