Kalimpong, 31st May: Darjeeling MP Raju Bista visited various rural parts of Kalimpong District – Gorubathan, Jaldhaka, Bindu, Kumai More and surrounding areas and took stock of the COVID situation in the region.
“We visited Gorubathan Block Hospital and also Jaldhaka PHC. We met and interacted with BMOH, senior medical officers, and nurses in both the hospitals. Gorubathan BPHC is the largest government health facility in the region, and Jaldhaka PHC caters to remote rural population who have to travel right from Bhutan border for over four hours to reach the nearest city, Siliguri. Given the remoteness, lack of awareness, fear psychosis and lack of transportation facilities many people showing COVID symptoms are going untested in the region. Hence, I have suggested that testing should be conducted in every village, every busty and every gardens itself. This way people won’t have to travel far for getting their testing done, and it will also help in identifying COVID cases and providing the treatment early,” Bista wrote in a press release.
The locals of the area also interacted with the MP and informed that many are in home isolation currently, but there has been no follow up on the part of the Health Department. To which, the MP requested the doctors concerned to ensure that timely monitoring and feedback is given to all those who are in home isolation.
“I have also requested the BMOH to take the vaccination drive to the villages itself, so that no individual eligible for vaccination is left out,” Bista added.
“At both Gorubathan BPHC and Jaldhaka PHC, the staffs made me aware of the lack of ambulance facility in their hospitals. I have assured them that I will work towards equipping the hospitals with ambulances at the earliest. I also spoke to the CMOH Kalimpong and have told him to improve the infrastrure, equipment and staff strength at these hospitals, which cater to a very large population,” he added.
The MP was accompanied by MLAs Neeraj Zimba and BP Bajgain along with BJP District President Dr Kalyan Dewan, Suva Pradhan and other alliance party and BJP leaders.
The team provided Oxygen Concentrators and other medical essentials including Oximeters, PPE Kit, Masks etc to both the hospitals.