Health infra in rural areas not adequate

ROHTAK: To combat the spread of Covid-19 in villages, the Centre has directed all states to set up three-tier health infrastructure, including makeshift 30-bed Covid care centres (each equipped with at least two oxygen cylinders), primary health care centres (PHCs), community health centres (CHCs), and subdistrict hospitals.

These directions are yet to be implemented across health centres in Haryana.

The state government has set up 46 isolation centres in villages of Rohtak, 35 in Rewari, 47 in Dadri and over 80 in Hisar but no villager got admitted at these isolation centres. Many CHCs and PHCs are not admitting patients as they don’t have oxygen beds.

Sanjay Dangi, of Madina village in Rohtak, said over three dozen unreported deaths have been witnessed in the village since April 24 and the village community health centre has no oxygen bed facility.

“These deaths occurred due to lack of facilities at the government community health centre. People are reluctant to appear for testing as local CHC lacks basic facilities,” he added.

People from chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s native village, Nindana in Rohtak, have not visited isolation centres and are reluctant to appear for testing. Balbir Sihag, acting president of Sisai municipal committee in Hisar, said the village CHC lacks basic facilities and has no oxygen bed. Dr Joginder, senior medical officer at Madina CHC, said they have 10 beds and 15 gas cylinders. Jhajjar civil surgeon Dr Sanjay Dahiya said they have been focusing more on CHCs to improve rural health facilities.