Mumbai: Govandi’s health post remains shut due to financial crunch

Approximately 200 tuberculosis patients sought their DOTs treatment at this centre. Representation Pic

After a year-long renovation at a health post cum dispensary in Govandi's Kamla Raman Nagar, it remains shut due to a lack of funds to procure a fire compliance licence. The health facility was supposed to reopen last month.

Situated closer to the Deonar dumping ground, approximately 200 tuberculosis patients sought their DOTs treatment at this centre. After its closure, the dispensary and the health post staff had shifted to a different location, just about a kilometre away from Kamla Raman Nagar.

"We had to trace them and inform each one that they would have to come a little ahead to avail of medications. It took a month to bring everyone to the new place, but now things have streamlined," said a DOTs centre in-charge of the area.

He claimed that there is a political aspect to the issue, as a former corporator or an MLA wants to inaugurate this centre. This is also something local activist Faiyaz Alam Sheikh said: "The residents here are against any political leader inaugurating it. It should be done by BMC officials and the residents only."

He added that there is a burden on the nearest HBT-Aapla Davakhana in the area in the absence of this centre. "Many still don't know that the OPD there has shifted elsewhere. There is an urgent need for this centre to reopen," he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Sanjay Funde, medical health officer (M East), said, "The only reason it has not reopened yet is because its fire compliance is pending due to a lack of funds. We should have the funds now, and we should be able to open the centre in the next 15 days."

He added that the application for fire compliance for this centre and another maternity home in Govandi's M East was filed together. "With the two combined, the cost was about Rs 1.95 lakh," Dr Funde said.