Pankaj, and fellow anthropologist friends,
I continue to be earnestly beguiled, intellectually challenged and
confronted by this dilemmna. Doesn't this complaint regarding inadequate
health infrastructure contradict the stand that the indigenous peoples are
far better off without medical intervention from pretentionist medical
practitioners? Pro isolationists and sociologists always aver, atleast to my
understanding, that the indigenous people are doing very well without
medical intervention from the so called mainstream types of industrial
societies. Or is the point here that mainland settlers who have squatted in
Long Island are deprived of mainland standards of medical service?

Praying for answers to relieve my confusion,
Malini

2009/4/7 Pankaj Sekhsaria <psekhsaria@...>

> Long Island: 2000 Islanders living at the mercy of God
>
> Trainee nurse and her dog run Government Hospital
>
> http://www.andamansheekha.com/
>
> Long Island, Middle Andaman, Apr 05: Long Island with a population of
> nearly 2000 is perhaps one of the most neglected Islands of this
> archipelago. Due to continuous negligence of Andaman and Nicobar
> Administration and Senior bearcats, Islanders living on this remote
> island, do not get even basic civic amenities. The standard of life on
> this island is horribly horrible and for islanders every night is a
> nightmare.
>
> In any society, good health of people should be given first
> priority but sadly in Long Island things are other way round.
>
> Long Island has a Primary Health Centre (PHC) but no doctors.
> Atleast 10 government quarters are earmarked for staffs of Health
> Department but unfortunately throughout the years these quarters remain
> unoccupied.
>
> The condition of Long Island PHC is so bad that entire unit
> is run by a trainee nurse and her dog. As doctors and regular nurses
> avoid staying on the islands, Islanders of Long Island have no other
> option than consulting with the trainee nurse in case of emergency.
> Medicines worth Lakhs and Lakhs of rupees are lying unutilized at Long
> island but there is no one to prescribe medicines to poor people is the
> Island.
>
> The condition of the Long Island PHC building is also
> pathetic. Unclean wards and unhygienic atmosphere usually keeps patients
> away from the Hospital.
>
> Islanders complain that several times they have put their
> grievance infront the senior officers of Andaman and Nicobar
> Administration but all their requests went to deaf ears.
>
> Last time on February 15, 2009 the Director of Health
> Services, Mr N Sadasivan, had visited the Long Island Hospital, he had
> reportedly promised to sent a lady doctors twice a week to Long Island
> from Rangat Hospital as before election new posting or recruitment is
> not possible, but till now no doctors have visited the islands.
>
> For emergency medical cases people of Long islands have to go
> to Baratang Island by ferry boats and from Baratang they have to go to
> Rangat by Bus. Not only this, to drop patients, upto the Long Island
> jetty the Health Department does not even have an Ambulance.
>
> The Most surprising fact is the Andaman and Nicobar
> Administration is trying to promote Long Island as a tourist spot and
> till March 31,2009 nearly 147 foreign tourists have visited the Islands.
> Now the million dollar question is if tomorrow there is an accident with
> foreign tourists, how the Health Department will provide emergency
> treatment to the foreign tourists at Long Island. A single accident in
> coming future may bring bad name for Andaman Tourist across the world.
>
> It seems that due to lack of monitoring from the top level
> Bureaucrats junior officers of Health Department are neglecting their
> duties and playing with the lives of poor islanders.
>
> The Lt Governor and Chief Secretary of Andaman and Nicobar
> Administration must pay a surprise visit to Long Island to see the
> ground realities.
>
> More..
>
> --
>
> http://pankaj-atcrossroads.blogspot.com
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/pankajsekhsaria/
>
> C/o Kalpavriksh
> Apt. 5, Sri Dutta Krupa,
> 908 Deccan Gym
> Pune 411004
> India
> Tel: 020 25654239
> Mob: 09423009933
> Email: psekhsaria@... <psekhsaria%40gmail.com>
>
>
>



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Malini Shankar
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Malini Shankar
Environmental Journalist / Nature Photographer /
TV & Radio Producer,
# 1 / 1 "Amrutha" Police Station Road, (New # 3)
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