‘Children Hospital Work Delayed For Political Reasons’

Srinagar, Sept 17: Demanding early start of work on the new Children Hospital here, the Civil Society Forum has accused the state government of delaying the execution on the state-of-the-art healthcare facility for “political reasons.”

Forum chairman, Umar Tramboo, said a project for setting up a modern pediatric hospital for Kashmir had been prepared in 2008 to augment the healthcare in this sector. Voicing concern over the delay, scores of banners appeared across the summer capital today to urge government to commence its work with a sense of urgency.

According to the latest census, Tramboo said, the valley had a child population of 36 lakh for whom it had just one 130-bed hospital which lacks basic infrastructure. “In absence of adequate facilities, the solitary pediatric hospital – GB Pant Hospital – witnessed the death of hundreds of children recently,” he said.

In 2008, when the incumbent union health minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, headed the state government, a project for establishment of Children Hospital in Bemina area had been prepared. Necessary land had also been acquired for the purpose, Tramboo said.

“However, work on the ambitious project has not been started for political reasons because of which the valley people are made to suffer. In the backdrop of recent deaths at the GB Pant Hospital, the chief minister, Omar Abdullah, made an announcement to start the execution of the project on priority basis within two weeks,” Tramboo said, urging the government to start the work early.

He said the Forum would take up the matter with union health minister, Azad, as well. (KNS)

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