A ten bed government medical sub centre located at Jirikinding in the western hilly division of Karbi Anglong district has became notorious for its lack of service to the disadvantaged rural people of the vast hilly area.
According to records this hospital has been provided with three doctors and a proportionate number of paramedical staff. People in the locality allege the appointed doctors and staff of the hospital presenting a host of artificial problems remain away from duty, causing the ensuing inhuman misery of the people who have to be taken to Kheroni plains on extremely bad roads. Hundreds of sick people have died in the last ten years due to what is being called the negligence of this hospital. Oddly this particular area is not covered by the government-sponsored essential ambulance service.
In an awful happening last Saturday, Sikari Teron of Heyoung Langso village was brought to Jirikinding medical sub centre in grave condition. He was injured in an attack by wild elephant. After allowing him to go through acute torment for four hours in the soiled corridor of the germ-infested sickbay, unattended by any doctor, the paramedical staff expressed their helplessness and advised his attendants to take him to another health centre but the ill-fated Sikari Teron succumbed to his injuries on the way to Kheroni.
In the last part of September, the staff and doctors of the hospital left the place, leaving the health centre in discarded circumstances causing immense trouble to the people of the locality, who had to travel a long distance to receive preliminary treatment. Infuriated people of the locality locked the hospital last Saturday alleging that without any doctor and other facility it is pointless to deceive the poor people whose lives are at stake. They decided not to allow the hospital to reopen until the authorities take steps to ensure the presence of doctors and other services.
At the time of filing of this report, no steps had been taken by any authority nor have any elected public leaders visited to discuss the problems of the ailing people of Jirikinding.
