NPP doubts state’s ability to tackle Ebola

SHILLONG, MAR 24: Questioning the preparedness of the state’s  health department in tackling ‘pandemic diseases’ NPP legislator James K Sangma raise the pathetic state of affairs of sub-centres in rural areas forcing people to opt for traditional medicines as alternative  mode for treatment .

Sangma said on Tuesday on the floor of the assembly moving a cut motion on the functioning of the health department, “We want to know apart from others, is the health department geared up to face the new challenges.”  He informed the house that globally one of the biggest challenges in the entire planet is the ‘global pandemic new diseases’ which spread fast and capable of wiping out entire population.

Sangma informed the house that the people of the state feel that the state’s health department is not properly geared up to meet the new challenges.  Though pandemic diseases such as Ebola and others are yet to touch the state, he said that to think it will not touch the state is like living in a fool’s paradise.

Sangma also felt that the reply by the state’s health minister AL Hek  on several occasions is not at all convincing.

Stating that the health sector especially in rural areas is still in a state of ‘disarray’, Sangma said, “The most basic delivery system to reach the grass root is the sub-centre but there is a lot that needs to be done,” adding “If you go to any village, the sub centres are only equipped with mere buildings but always short supply of medicines and others.

Sangma said as a result of this many patients are discouraged to get them treated and opt for traditional medicines which he said cannot treat serious ailments. Saying that 90 per cent of people in rural areas go for traditional medicines, he said this is either because they think that it is cheaper and secondly because of convenience.

Having said this, Sangma further questioned whether is it not the state government duty to provide better health care as it is suppose to be accessible to a common man.

Asserting the need for the health department to introspect, Sangma said, “The government needs to adopt a ‘bottom-up-approach’ by starting with the sub centre and improving their infrastructures,” adding “I urged the Minister to visit all the sub centres in the state as they are the ‘first line of defense’.”

Sangma said lot more focus and attention is needed on the sub centres as at present the health department is functioning in a bottom-down way.

Sangma also proposed the need to have more mobile testing kits or diagnose kit for  identifying diseases area wise even as he  said Garo Hills is affected badly by malaria.

Replying to the motion, Hek said the department  as a team is taking the challenges and trying its best to make the department as one of the best in the country.”  Claiming the department is capable to ‘curb’ all challenges, he said, “We are always geared up and ready to face all challenges.”

On the sub-centres, Hek informed that the department is working to reach out to the grass root and has made medicines available in all sub centres both urban and rural areas. He however said, as far as traditional medicine is concerned, it is a personal choice of the patient.

Stating that it is not possible to provide testing kits for many diseases, Hek, however, informed that the department is monitoring and inspection regularly. – By Our Reporter