It has been over a week that Draateng Gewog in Trongsa has been without electricity. The gewog has experienced power fluctuation for several days and even total failure at times since May 8.
Normal life has been affected. But it is the Health officials who are beginning to get quite concerned about the situation.
A Health Assistant at Kuenga Rabten Basic Health Unit, Lethro Drukpa, 50, carefully puts away the vaccines in the cold box to ensure that they do not spoil. The vaccines have to be kept at a very low temperature, but this has been difficult without electricity. Every time, a vaccine is needed, a staff from the BHU has to travel all the way to Trongsa hospital to get the vaccine. Vaccines are kept in cold storage at the Trongsa hospital.
After electricity went off, even delivery cases are being referred to Trongsa. “We had to ask the patients to get candles, and we had to attend to them under candlelight,” said Lethro Drukpa.
The BHU being near the Mangdechhu project also sees many injury cases. “We even use torches in the absence of power,” said the Health Assistant.
Storage of medicines is not only one problem. Sterilization of equipment is also being compromised. At the moment, sterilization is being done manually, but is not considered safe.
A BPC official says two of their officials were electrocuted while carrying out repair work, and progress has been slowed down. But he said they are hopeful about restoring power today.
