Deplorable healthcare facilities in Arunachal: Single nurse caters to a village of 3000

Riga Health & Wellness Centre-cum-Primary Health Centre has been without a doctor for 2 years

Riga village in East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh has at least 3000 people. The village has many old and ailing people. But just a single nurse to take care of all of there. The village has no doctors or any other medical staff other than the nurse.

The Magong Banggo Students’ Union (MBSU) of Siang district along with the public of Riga village have appealed to the health department of the government of Arunachal Pradesh to immediately post a doctor as the medical officer in the Health & Wellness Centre-cum-Primary Health Centre, Riga and two nurses and a peon in the Riga health Sub-Centre.
 
As per the statement of MBSU and the public of Riga village, the health sub-centre, Riga is manned and looked after by only a single nurse due to which people of Riga village face a huge problem in getting medical treatment, particularly when the lone nurse is absent.

Speaking to Northeast Live, Tabir Taga and Tanyi Tatak, two elderly people from Riga village have said that, the lone nurse in the Riga village health sub-centre can’t take the load of several patients. “We request the state government to immediately post two additional nurses and a peon in our village medical sub-centre besides sanction of a boundary wall for the centre”, added Taga and Tatak on behalf of the people of Riga village.
 
Riga is running without any regular medical officer (regular doctor) for around the last 2 years.

However, when asked about the shortages of other staff and medicines Tameng Noram, a Health Assistant informed that there were no shortages at the PHC Riga (Peging Bote) including staff and medicines requirements etc. While showing all the available facilities for patients including the labour room for baby delivery cases, the staff of the PHC Riga added that only a regular doctor is required in the centre.

Tamek Tatin, a villager, informed that the PHC Riga at Peging Bote is in need of a doctor for the last 2 years. Due to the non-availability of a regular doctor in the PHC, all the serious and major patients are sent to the district medical of Boleng, Aalo or Yingkiong for treatment. So, posting a regular doctor in the PHC Riga (Peging Bote) would be a great help to the people of Riga and its surrounding villages.
 
On the part of the Magong Banggo Students Union, Koti Mize and Lenzing Mize as President and Speaker of the union appealed to the health department of the Government of Arunachal Pradesh to post a regular doctor/medical officer in the Health & Wellness Centre cum Primary Health Care Riga (Peging Bote) and 2 nurses and a peon in the Sub-Centre, Riga within a month.

Health minister Alo Libang couldn’t be contacted for his response on the serious appeal of the public of Riga village. But being a people’s government, the people of Riga and MBSU hope that the required doctor and nurses will be posted in the HWC-cum-PHC Riga (Peging Bote) and Sub-Centre, Riga at the earliest possible.

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