People of Tukla village of Khariar block blocked the Khariar-Bhawanipatna road (SH-16) on Friday demanding posting of a doctor in the Tukla PHC and cancellation of transfer of a pharmacist from their health center.
"The post of doctor has remained vacant for more than two years. And, now to add to the woe, anther vacancy will be created by transferring the pharmacist,” said the agitators.
"The main sufferers are the women and children. Two women who were admitted here recently for institutional delivery faced abortion due to absence of staffers," they added.
The agitators did not listen to the request of Tehsildar, Khariar and the Medical Officer of Khariar CHC initially to withdraw the strike.
"Tukla is a very big village with more than 10,000 population and the same number of people from the vicinity are dependent on this health center. But the administration, instead of paying heed to the health needs of the people, is withdrawing the staff. The nurses and the pharmacist do not stay here," they lamented.
The Tehsildar and the MO, after discussion with the CDMO, Nuapada, over phone assured that a doctor would attend the PHC three days in a week until the posting of a permanent staff.
The villagers earlier had drawn attention of the district administration in writing and had intimated that they would resort to strike, if their demands were not fulfilled.
Answering people's demands, the CDMO had said that, the process for posting of a doctor from corpus fund has been initiated and the people have to manage with the existing staff. But the people urged for an immediate posting.
"We have been cheated several times in the past and hence, no more consideration this time," they said. They also demanded posting of a pharmacist and strong instructions to the nurses and the pharmacist to stay in the village.
The villagers insisted that either the Collector or the CDMO should come to the village to solve the problem.
The strike was finally called off in the evening after the CDMO gave in writing to the villagers that a doctor would be deputed.
The villagers have warned that they would resort to strike again if a pharmacist is not posted immediately.