SIRONCHA, August 14: In sharp contrast to the tall claims made by the State Government about taking medical services to remote tribal areas, people in this tribal tehsil of Gadchiroli district are facing hardships due to the inadequate staff at the rural hospital here.

As against the 32 posts sanctioned for this hospital, only eight have been filled up.

To top it all, the post of medical superintendent (First Class) has not been proposed at the hospital despite it being mandatory at the rural hospitals. Adding to the woes of the tribal populace is the fact that many posts are lying vacant at the three primary health centres (PHCs) in the tehsil.The inadequate staff has defeated the very purpose of the State Government of making medical facilities available to the tribals and solving the problem of malnutrition in the region.

The rural hospital was constructed at an expense of Rs 10 lakh about six years ago.

However, it serves little purpose as only an assistant medical superintendent, a laboratory technician, a nurse, a laboratory assistant and a compounder are looking after the patients coming from all over the tehsil. The only medical officer, Soyam, treats all patients.

The ambulance at the hospital has been rendered useless since the post of driver is yet to be filled up.

Similarly, the post of medical officers (Grade-II) at the Zinganur, Kopela and Ankisa PHCs and medical officers (Grade-III) at the Tekda Talla and Moyabinpetha PHCs are lying vacant.

The post of a medical officer (Grade-III) is also lying vacant at the Bejurpalli Ayurvedic Hospital.

Kopella, Zinganur and Moyabinpetha are the villages which become inaccessible during the monsoon. Even the critical patients in other areas of the district are required to be taken to the Gadchiroli or Chandrapur district general hospitals, both about 230 kms from the tehsil headquarter.The residents here have alleged the State Government of meting out step-motherly treatment to them.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.