Boinda: The primary health centre in Boinda under Kishorenagar block in Angul district has only one ambulance. Its condition is so pathetic that locals prefer to arrange their own vehicles rather than calling the ambulance to take patients to doctors and the health centre.
The plight of patients travelling in the ambulance came to the fore Saturday. A patient from the Handapa area was being taken to the Boinda PHC in it. During the journey, the family members found out that it was very painful and suffocating for the patient to travel in the vehicle. They sent away the ambulance and arranged a car to take the patient to the Angul district headquarters hospital.
“The ambulance’s AC and fan have been out of order for six months now. The window panes are also not in proper condition. When it rains, the water seeps through. It affects the patients and also damages equipment in the ambulance. Hence, we have no option but to hire private vehicles which are expensive,” said a villager.
“The Boinda Citizens’ Forum has taken up this issue with the collector on many occasions, but to no avail,” observed villagers Chintamani Pradhan, Abhiram Sahu, Rajendra Sahu, Bhagwan Gheewala. They said they have urged the district administration to get the ambulance repaired immediately.
PNN
