RAJAHMUNDRY: A primary health centre in the fishing village of Pallamkurru in Konaseema district has been functioning without a building for the last seven years. Here, pregnant women in the village of 25,000 receive treatment under the shade of a water tank, even though a building for the PHC was sanctioned five years ago.
Seven staff members, medical officers of the PHC, stay in two small rented rooms. Patients of this backward area have to travel 18 kilometers to reach Katrenikona or cities like Rajahmundry, Kakinada and Amalapuram for treatment. This poses a problem for the pregnant women of this village, most of who are anaemic and cannot travel long distances in autorickshaws. Medical staff of the PHC have no option but to treat patients under the village water tank.
District medical and health officer in-charge, Dr B Meenakshi, said the new building for the PHC was sanctioned in 2017 and work could not begin due to legal issues on land.
Speaking to STOI, district collector of the newly formed Konaseema district, Himanshu Shukla said he is sending the district medical and health officer to Pallamkurru to take stock of the situation. He assured that necessary action will be initiated immediately.
