S Henlly Phom
TUENSANG, MARCH 23
THE Primary Health Centre at Thonoknyu block under Tuensang District wears a deserted look. This is completely at odds with the purpose of the centre which is meant to serve the needs of 28 villages under the Thonoknyu block. It is located away from the main road, adding an additional burden to the people with the main road itself in miserable disrepair.But even that does’nt seem to matter to the people for the presence of the PHC is as good as not being there at all. The abandoned bungalow has never had its doors open to the community since it was established three years ago. In all that time not a single doctor has been attached to the centre.
The 6 bedded PHC is functioning with the assistance of 2 nurses and 2 pharmacists for immediate need of the folks.
Talking to Eastern Mirror, the lone pharmacists stated that he along with the other three staff work in shifts to attend to the patients. The facilities in the absence of a doctor are temporary and depending on the condition of patients, he said they refer serious and complicated cases to other hospitals. But this is a big inconvenience for the villagers in the absence of good and viable road connectivity to make their travel that much more comfortable and affordable.
The PHC also often suffers from a regular supply of essential drugs and medication with the unreliable connectivity. A recent enquiry by ENSF members revealed that medicines at the PHC were almost reaching expiry dates by the time the drugs reached the centre. But this revelation was greeted with acceptance by the PHC since it has been the norm to receive medicines in these conditions. The pharmacist added that the situation was slightly improved since they are now receiving medicines compared to receiving none at all.
Thonoknyu’s town chairman talking to Eastern Mirror lamented that the PHC some years ago was functioning suitably with a doctor but since three years the centre has been abandoned without a doctor overlooking rights of a human being.
The tale of neglect carries well into Peshu village also under the Thonoknyu block whose population have yet to benefit from any schemes for the last three years. With a maximum number of beneficiaries of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), the villagers of Peshu village allege that not one of the 696 beneficiaries have received any funds under the said scheme for the past 3 years. The Block Development Officer (BDO) then, had never upholded their rights they add. They wondered the whereabouts of the funds under this scheme for the last 3 years and rued that being a daily wage earner this was their only means of bread and butter.
Longkhim’s administration beyond reach
A sneak into government offices in Longkhim explain why the development in the area is a forgotten word. The two administrative centres in the Longlhim sub division which is not only the oldest but also the biggest in the Eastern district houses no working personnel. The offices of the Information Office (IO) and Block Development Office under the department of Rural Development (R.D) Block is stated to almost be on the verge of extinction.
The office of the IO has been standing without a proper building for the past 10 years and the only employee are a peon and care taker. The face of the office leaves no doubt that that there is any opportunity for reviving the department, despite the situation being brought to the notice of higher authorities. Similarly, the BDO’s office although meant be functioning with a total of 15 staff members is on the contrary manned by one man.
Like a faithful soldier, this one man army, regularly attends the deserted post (read office) Speaking with Eastern Mirror an administrative officer of another area pointed out that the main cause of non governance all goes back to the deplorable road conditions. He added that in such a scenario it becomes extremely urgent and central that communities learn to stand united to obtain their rights from the administration.
