Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Sept 19: ‘Peaceful protests’ launched by the Congress party at community health centres (CHCs) and primary health centres (PHCs) across the state opposing lack of adequate healthcare facilities turned violent at a hospital in Cuttack Monday.
Hundreds of party activists staged peaceful dharnas in front of PHCs and CHCs in 314 blocks and health facilities across the state including Bhubaneswar demanding improved medical services.
The party sought to highlight tribal Dana Majhi’s plight after he was denied a hearse to carry his wife’s body home in Kalahandi district. The party also reminded people of 19 malnutrition deaths at Nagada in Jajpur district to show pathetic healthcare in the state.
The protesters tried to draw public attention towards shortage of doctors, of ambulances and mismanagement of health administration, poor infrastructure and government’s failure to contain outbreak of dengue and malaria.
Pradesh Congress Committee chief Prasad Harichandan told reporters sit-ins were held to protest deteriorating healthcare to which the state government has remained apathetic. “The party will intensify protests if action is not taken to mitigate the situation,” he asserted.
Irate Congress workers ransacked city hospital at Cuttack and allegedly manhandled the ADMO in spite of Congress leadership’s direction to keep dharnas peaceful.
As decided at the Congress executive body meeting September 9, the workers staged a dharna at the hospital. Tension erupted after the activists led by City Congress president Mohammad Moquim were told to wait for the chief district medical officer (CDMO) to reach office when they wanted to submit a memorandum.
Party activists, however, went berserk and ransacked the office of ADMO Abhay Patnaik who refused to accept their memorandum. Patnaik is reported to have complained to Daragha Bazar police in this regard.
