Sakteng Public Health Centre in Trashigang is in poor condition, putting patient safety at risk. Residents are urging authorities to either renovate or rebuild the centre. Moreover, they are requesting an additional health worker to make the health services more accessible.
The structure is deteriorating. Cracks have appeared in the walls, the woods are rotting and the roof is leaking. Elders in the gewog say the health center built in 1997, has been serving the community for over 27 years.
People fear the structure could collapse at any moment.
Dorji Sangay, a resident says, “New mothers who have recently given birth have to spend the night here. Rainwater is seeping in, and if the wall collapses, it could be dangerous. The structure is old, and it’s high time for renovation.”
“From the outside, you can see cracks in the walls, and rainwater seeps inside. The public has been questioning the Gewog Administration about this regularly,” says Pusa-Tengma Tshogpa Rinchen Khando.
Moreover, the centre is staffed by just one health assistant. Residents say it becomes difficult to access medical services when he is on leave or away on official duties.
The centre serves around 300 households and handles some 30 patients daily.
Sakteng Mangmi Dema Tshering says, “A few years ago, the centre had two female health assistants, but they both went to Australia for further studies. Now we only have one male health assistant. With such limited staff, the public faces difficulties when he is on leave or away for official duties.”
The local leaders have raised the issue multiple times during Dzongkhag Tshogdu.
The Chief Medical Officer at Trashigang Hospital said that Nu 50 million has been allocated for the centre’s reconstruction in this five-year plan.
The reconstruction is expected to begin next fiscal year.
However, due to a shortage of staff at the district hospital, he said it is currently not feasible to provide an additional health assistant. He is optimistic that the district will receive more staff next year, allowing one to be posted to Sakteng.
Sonam Darjay, Trashigang
Edited by Sangay Chezom
