The Zamalgam village in Dooru comprising of over 500 households has been facing neglect with government having failed to open even a dispensary here forcing people to refer the patients to health facilities elsewhere even for minor ailments.
Due to lack of any healthcare facility in the village people complain that they have to travel 5-6 kilometers to see a doctor at the health facilities in other areas. The village has been neglected by successive governments even as it is located only 6 Kilometres, south of Dooru Shahabad. The sub district hospital (SDH) in Dooru is the nearest health centre for the villagers of Zamalgam.
“We are dependent on either the SDH at Dooru or the Hospital in Verinag, which is a couple of Kilometres away from Dooru.” said Abdul Salam Wani, a retired school teacher from the village.
Wani said that despite their demands the government has failed to set up a health care facility in the area. “Politicians and government have been apathetic to our plight,” Wani said.
Locals rue that they face a tough time at the time of medical emergencies during the night.
“We somehow manage during the day but in the absence of proper transport facilities, we face a tough time during the night,” said a villager.
Zahid Ahmad, a resident, who works at SK Institute of Medical Sciences in Srinagar, said that he also pursued the matter of establishing a dispensary in the village with Health Authorities earlier, but to no avail. “ I have highlighted the issue with the officials but no-one has taken any heed.” said Zahid.
A senior official at the Health department said that proposals have been mooted to the Higher Authorities earlier. “I do not know what stops the authorities from establishing a dispensary here,” the official said on condition of anonymity. He acknowledged that the people of the village face inconveniences in absence of any Health care facilities whatsoever.
“We can only intimate the higher authorities. We do not have decision taking powers,” said the official.
500 families at Zamalgam lack healthcare centre
