Three years on, Pulwama Maternity Hospital remains a dream

Pulwama, Jan 11: Three years on, despite the identification of 112 kanals of land at Sirnoo Pulwama for the construction of a 100-bed maternity hospital to address the growing health needs of women  in Pulwama and Shopian districts, the hospital is yet come up in the district.

A group of residents of Pulwama told Ziraat Times that this project was a long term demand of the people in South Kashmir districts of Pulwama and Shopian as it was a dire need to address the growing maternal healthcare needs of in Pulwama and Shopian districts.

“Over the years, the population has increased to a greater mark in district Pulwama and Shopain. The current bed ratio available in Distt. Hospital Pulwama for conducting major and minor gynecological and obstetrical admission does not fulfill the rising health demands in these areas”, says Aijaz Ahmed, a resident of Pulwama who has been researching healthcare infrastructure needs in the district.

Local residents say that the land for the hospital was identified after repeated protests by the people in the area for a lack of proper maternity healthcare facilities in the district.

“The site identified is convenient for people in the surrounding areas as its location is easily accessible for its proximity to the town centre”, said Nazia Akhter, a medical  professional.

Locals today are disappointed that despite running from pillar to post to get this hospital sanctioned here, this project has made little progress beyond putting up a notice board and an entrance road.

“If the project comes up here, it would decrease the rush in Srinagar’s Lal Ded Maternity Hospital. Importantly, it can reduce the distance for a large number of women seeking maternity healthcare”, says Farhana Bhat, a resident of Shopian town.

Local residents also insist that the hospital could save time and resources for the residents of South Kashmir as, in the absence of maternity hospital in the area, they are forced to take patients to either Srinagar or to private clinics.

“It would be appreciated if the LG Administration takes up the construction of the hospital at high priority considering and provide the locals a sigh of relief”, said Farooq Ahmed, a resident of Keller, Pulwama.