Posts of male health worker vacant in lower Kangra areas

Rajiv Mahajan
NURPUR, JUNE 10

The posts of multi-purpose health worker (MPHW) are lying vacant in Gangath, Indora, Nagrota Surian and Fatehpur in lower Kangra.

In Gangath block, 23 of the 26 posts of male health worker are vacant whereas in Indora 17 of the 20, Fatehpur 28 of the 31 and in Nagrota Surian 27 of the 39 posts are vacant.

Sources say that there are 13 health blocks and 449 health sub-centres in the district. Only 89 male and 269 female workers are rendering their services whereas 140 sub-centres are without any worker. The Health Department had MPHW training centres in Una, Kullu and Shimla districts in the past.

Sanjay Sharma, vice-president of the state Multi-Purpose Health Workers Association, said a large number of posts of male health worker had been lying vacant in the state. He said the department had made no appointments since 2002.

Sharma said that health workers played a key role in the Universal Immunisation Programme in which children from the age of 42 days to 5 years got vaccination.

“The MPHWs are playing an important role in testing, vaccination and also monitoring the health of Covid patients in home isolation on a daily basis. But the state government is delaying filling of posts, which has disrupted health service at the grassroot level,” he said.

Gurdarshan Gupta, Chief Medical Officer, Kangra, said the issue was already in the knowledge of the government and the report had also been submitted to the higher authorities.