No ultrasound facilities at CHC Diglipur since last nearly two months; Patients left in Lurch

John Wilbert & Savita Kumari
Port Blair, Feb 21: Lack of trained doctors to operate the Ultrasound equipment in CHC Diglipur has left dozens of patients in deep distress. Expecting mothers of Diglipur region, who need ultrasound checkup atleast thrice during pregnancy period are suffering the most.
It is learnt that earlier an Ultrasound Operator used to reach Diglipur from Mayabunder once in a month to conduct various Ultrasound tests/checkups but since last two months no one came to CHC Diglipur from Mayabunder District Hospital to operate the Ultrasound machine for unknown reasons.
“We have been asked to travel to Mayabunder to get Ultrasound checkup done. How is it even possible for a pregnant mother to travel to Mayabunder with such a pathetic condition of NH4,” said a villager of Diglipur, who does not want his name to be quoted.
People of Diglipur area are demanding to post a permanent Ultrasound operator/Doctor to CHC Diglipur, considering the huge population of the region.
When Andaman Sheekha correspondent contacted the Chief Medical Officer of CHC Diglipur, Dr. Siddha Raju on this issue, he said that the problem is that the ultrasound machine needs to be operated only by trained Doctors.
“We need a trained Doctor to operate the ultrasound machine. This is the reason why earlier a trained Doctor used to come to Diglipur from Mayabunder every month,” he added.
He assured Andaman Sheekha that he has got information that tomorrow for two days, a Doctor from Mayabunder will be reaching Diglipur to carry out Ultrasound tests/check ups.
Insiders told Andaman Sheekha that due to short notice of arrival of Ultrasound operators in Diglipur, CHC Diglipur officials find it very difficult to inform all patients, who are waiting for Ultrasound Tests/Checkups about the dates.
Hence the general public of the region are demanding that the Director of Health Service must direct the District Hospital Mayabunder to send doctors to Diglipur for Ultrasound tests/check ups only on a specific date atleast twice in a month.