Residents of Hardpanzoo in the Khansahib area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district have voiced their frustration with the local health department for its “lack of interest” in the construction of a PHC building.
Despite construction work beginning years ago, there has been little progress on the project, the locals told.
We have to travel several kilometres to receive medical care, as our nearby Public Health Centre (PHC) lacks basic facilities, they said, adding that the ongoing closure of the under-construction PHC building only exacerbates this problem.
“Due to the health department’s negligence, we have to visit crowded health centres when we get sick, which puts our health at risk,” said Waseem Ahmad, a local.
“We are concerned about what to do in case of emergencies, especially for the elderly and children,” he added.
The locals alleged that despite years of construction, little has been done to complete the project.
One of the residents of Hardpanzoo said that young people are using the incomplete building to take drugs.
Meanwhile, the PHC is currently being run out of a small room which lacks adequate facilities for patients.
Residents have called on higher authorities to take action to complete the project and ensure that people in the area have access to proper medical care.
