Representatives of CSOs Kangpokpi including KSO Sadar, and TSA Sadar Hills led by Thangminlen Kipgen, Vice President Kuki Inpi Kangpokpi visited the District Hospital and met with the hospital authority. They drew the attention of the health minister and other authorities concerned
TFM KANGPOKPI Representative
Amidst surging COVID infection in the state, the District Hospital Kangpokpi is overflowing with patients mostly children with high fever, typhoid, and other cases.
As the number of patients mounts the District Hospital Kangpokpi is grappling with staff shortage keeping the hospital authority, the civil society organisations and the patient’s parties on tenterhooks.
Over the past few weeks, patients mostly children with high fever, typhoid, throat pain, cough, and other cases overflowed the District Hospital, and no more beds were available at present while some were even adjusted in the emergency room and other available spaces.
Many patients were referred to other health centres, including Kangpokpi Christian Hospital (Mission Hospital) while some were compelled to return for home treatment.
Concerning the alarming situation, representatives of CSOs Kangpokpi including KSO Sadar, and TSA Sadar Hills led by Thangminlen Kipgen, Vice President Kuki Inpi Kangpokpi visited the District Hospital and met with the hospital authority to take stock of the situation.
While talking with the Medical Superintendent of the District Hospital, it came to light that the hospital authority has been reeling under staff shortages since long despite repeated appeals to the authorities concerned.
As per MGEL sanctioned post, there should be 14 staff nurses but surprisingly only four staff nurses are posted at present of which one has been posted at PHSC Parsain under PHC Kalapahar as CHO under NHM.
With the increasing patient turnout at OPD, IPD, and Emergency, only three staff nurses and four FHW cannot deliver good quality healthcare services to the public 24×7.
The hospital required at least 8 staff nurses immediately, said sources.
Apart from shortages of staff nurses, out of three sanctioned LDC posts, none were posted at present, and one ambulance driver is posted out of two sanctioned posts. There is also no Chowkidar despite one sanctioned post, and only one sweeper is available despite two sanctioned posts while only one Grave-IV is available despite three sanctioned posts.
The Chief Medical Officer Kangpokpi recently wrote again to the Director of Health Services, stating that the District Hospital/CHC Kangpokpi, despite being a referral centre for other PHCs/PHSCs/HWCs of the district has been facing immense inconvenience in discharging good quality healthcare services to the public owing to lack of manpower and requested the health director for posting adequate health staff.
Unfortunately, the ICU ward inaugurated recently could not be made functional owing to shortages of manpower.
The CSOs team also visited the overflowing patients at the hospital accompanied by Dr. Paotinlal Haokip, Medical Superintendent of District Hospital Kangpokpi.
After taking stock of the situation, Thangminlen Kipgen, Vice President, Kuki Inpi Kangpokpi said that apart from the acute shortages of manpower especially staff nurses in the hospital as highlighted by the hospital authority, there are also many shortages in infrastructures in the hospital.
He continued that not a single functional fan has been available in all the wards during this scorching summer in the hospital which is not a conducive place for the patients to recover.
He also said that there are also some minor and major repairs urgently needed in the hospital and a non-functioning toilet in the hospital is also one major concern that needs to be urgently addressed.
The lives of many people are at stake as the district hospital authority is grappling with staff shortages amid the surging number of patients at the hospital with various cases, he added.
He then appealed to the health minister and other authorities concerned to expedite the request of the hospital authority which they made through the proper channel and initiate action at the earliest for the welfare of the people.
The CSOs leaders also met the Deputy Commissioner Kangpokpi and put up the matter regarding the acute shortages of staff in the District Hospital and various other issues which the DC assured to look into after due consultation with the Chief Medical Officer.