Various health schemes of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) have remained nonstarters in most of the areas in Kandhamal district.
This came to the fore after the CYSD, an NGO, conducted a public hearing here on Saturday. All most all the grievances placed by ASHA, Aanganwadi and GKS members of 43 revenue villages of Khajuripada, Chakapad and Tikabali blocks remained unanswered.
They alleged that doctors and staffs of PHCs and CHCs do not respond to their patients, and instead behave them roughly. The Janani Express, 108 and 102 ambulances are not functioning properly. Even if a patient is brought in an alternative arrangement, the expenditure is not being borne by the hospitals.
The Ultrasound machine in the District Headquarters Hospital is also not working. Hence the rural people are going to G Udaygiri or any other place to get the service, they alleged.
District Malaria Officer Dr Jatin Pattanik, ADMO Dr Narayan Sethi, State Coordinator of Maternal Health Prafualla Moharana and Adocate Monoj Pattnaik attended the programme to reply to the grievances.
They could not answer any of these complaints placed before them. They said these complaints should be made before the District Collector who is the chairman of the NRHM.
The guests only advised the ASHA workers to make awareness about use of contraceptives among the rural people.
“What is use of holding this public hearing, if the funds coming under NRHM for patients are not utilised properly. The NRHM schemes should be implemented in true letter and spirit,” said an ASHA worker.
They demanded that the Government should conduct an inquiry into use of NRHM funds.