Maternity and child health wing at Mangaldai Civil Hospital inaugurated again!

Our Correspondent

MANGALDAI, July 10: The long-felt need of the people of Darrang for the functioning of the 100-bedded Maternity and Child Health Wing at Mangaldai Civil Hospital, which was constructed two years back, was finally fulfilled on Tuesday when Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Pijush Hazarika inaugurated it. However, this 100-bedded Maternity and Child Health Wing has been inaugurated twice. Earlier on February 29, 2016, the then Minister of Fisheries and Water Resources, Basanta Das had inaugurated it. But due to non-availability of the required number of doctors and other staff, the hospital was almost lying abandoned. Former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had laid the foundation of this wing on April 12, 2013.

Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Pijush Hazarika, in presence of many prominent persons, including legislator Gurujyoti Das, Deputy Commissioner Ashok Kr Barman, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Health) Bidyut Bikash Bhagawati, and Joint Director of Health Services of Darrang, Dr Ruplal Nunisa, ceremonially dedicated the set-up to the public.

He claimed that though the set-up had been inaugurated earlier, its construction was not completed and there was need for furniture, fixtures, doctors and para-medical staff to start its functioning. He hoped that this Rs 22.90 crore multi-storey health institution with all modern infrastructure like major and minor operation theatres, Obstetric ICU, wards for Eclempsia patients, post-delivery observation, ante natal and post natal, high dependency, burn care and USG, besides seminar hall and library for doctors would cater to the needs of the poor patients and medical fraternity of the area. Significantly, the inaugural function was attended by the health officials and staff, nurses, ASHA workers, leaders of the ruling BJP but there was zero attendance of common people.

On the other hand, though it was announced that State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma would be the chief guest in the inaugural function, he did not turn up, perhaps only to avoid the controversy that might come up regarding its inauguration twice.