Locals lock Jodum CHC demanding filling up of vacant doctor posts

Cuttack: Palpable tension prevailed at Jodum Community Health Centre (CHC) under Narasinghpur block in Cuttack district on Tuesday when hundreds of locals staged demonstration and locked up the CHC demanding filling up of vacant doctors posts at the hospital.

There have been four sanctioned posts of doctors at the hospital, but they are lying vacant. Therefore, nurses and pharmacists are treating patients at the CHC, locals alleged.

Despite repeated appeals to the local administration and MLA to resolve the issue, nothing concrete has been done yet.

“Not a single doctor is ready to work in this hospital. Moreover, neither the administration nor any people's representative is paying any heed to our problems. We have been suffering a lot,” rued a local Subash Chandra Pradhan.

“We are deprived of getting proper treatment and there is an immediate need for doctors at the CHC” said a resident Ashish Ranjan Sahu.

Meanwhile, the agitating locals threatened to continue their protest until their demands are met. Besides, they have decided to stay away from voting in the forthcoming election if their issues are not addressed at the earliest.

“Not a single doctor is interested to serve in this CHC and the CDMO is yet to take any steps,” said staff nurse of Jodum CHC Sujata Dalei.