Women are universally known for being good manager because of innate qualities like patience and perseverance. They are also considered better in the field of health services.
However, the backbone emergency service in the State ‘108 Sanjeevani Express’ has not realised this. Only around 6.5 per cent of the total staff of the 108 service are female. Out of 1,200 employees in the Public-Private Partnership model of the service, there are only 80 women employees in the entire State. Toiling demands of this service don’t suit most of the women work force and after couple of months they normally desert. More than half the number of women employees who had joined 108 service in 2011 left the service because of the nature of the job.
According to a study by University of Montreal research team published in November 2013, the quality of care provided by female doctors and healthcare workers is higher than that of their male counterparts. Though the state government has made good use of the ‘healing touch’ of women, their presence in 108 Sanjeevani Express is very marginal. The Chhattisgarh government has brought women into healthcare services by seeking their services as Asha workers and Mitanins. According to State Health Resource Centre, Chhattisgarh, there are around 80,000 mitanins working in villages and blocks in the state.
It may be noted that women are being increasingly preferred in developed countries like America. According to a report published in American business magazine Forbes, 73% of medical and health service managers are women. The report was based on a study conducted by the Bureau of labor Statistics of the US Government. Gender biasness at workplace, low confidence and lack of mentors are the main deterrent that keeps females away from taking up dynamic and chief roles in health services.
In the state, there are 14 women positioned as Emergency Medical Technicians, 46 as Hospital Based Emergency Medical Technicians, four as follow up worker, three as case closing desk, five as emergency response officers, one as Team leader, one as Emergency Response Call Physicians and six as Support Staff. These figures were provided by the Public Relations Department of the emergency service.
While women are not employed as drivers and assistant on the 108 emergency vehicle, their presence in other departments of the service is scarce, too. When we started in 2011, we are over 15 percent of women staff in 108. But gradually, after analysing the nature of job which requires 24X7 services even in remote areas, women dropped out, ” said State Operations Head
Suresh Camil.