That's why, the desolation of the PHC should not be considered as an yardstick of the villagers' health. ``Almost half the residents of the two localities, where a leaking drinking water pipeline triggered the epidemic a fortnight ago, are still suffering from gastro-enteritis ailments'', says Qadir Mian, a neighbour of the two deceased youths. ``But no one wants to go to the PHC. They've always let us down.''

That is why Soma Tadvi, 24, and his brother Kalubhai, 21, who resided less than 100 yards away from the PHC, preferred to go for a second opinion to private clinics, after the first brush with the PHC.

No wonder, really. The six-room PHC has four filthy beds, a whimsical fan, and staff who are rarely punctual, despite government accommodation in the village. Off the record, the staff members agree the quality of their antibiotics, multi-vitamins, B-complex vitamins and glucose leave a lot to be desired.

``Sarkari dawakhana na koi thikana nathi (there's no depending on the government health centres)'', say a devastated Bhikhabhai and Ganiben, the deceaseds' parents who are well into their seventies. Bhikhabhai is openly sceptical of the quality of medicines administered to his sons at the PHC and again at SSG Hospital, Vadodara.

``Why should we go to the government centre?'', asks a belligerent Dharmendrasinh Chavda, two-time sarpanch of the village. ``The availability of doctors is not certain; their consultation as well as the medicines they provide are sub-standard. I've complained to the government a number of times about this.''

The low opinion of the PHC is all-pervasive. ``This is not the first time that jaundice has struck the village; nor will it be the last time'', says A C Baria, Hasmukh Vasava, Mukhtiar Mirza and others. ``But we'll continue to patronise the private clinics mushrooming all around and at Bodeli, 7 km away. They provide better treatment and can be held responsible if there's an untoward incident.''

District Chief Medical Officer Suhas Sabnis did not dispute the charges. He admits at least half the 66 district PHCs are poorly equipped and that the mistrust of PHCs is widespread.

In the meantime, the local panchayat of Jabugam is supplying drinking water through tankers. The report on the water quality of a well and an overhead tank is to be come through.