Visits Chandanwari, Pahalgam, Nunwan base camp
Srinagar: Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Rather Sunday took stock of health care arrangements for Amarnath Yatra and visited Chandawari, Pahalgam and Nunwan base camp.
During the visit, he was accompanied by CMO Anantnag, BMO, Medical Director Yatra, Nodal officers of Yatra, besides other concerned officers of the health department.
The director first visited Pahalgam hospital, then Chandawari and followed by Nunwan base camp and DRDO Hospital Chandawari.
The director took review of the health care arrangements at all the places and took the first hand appraisal of drugs, oxygen and other related facilities.
He also interacted with yatris and asked them about the health care arrangements being provided to them and asked them whether they were facing any difficulty in terms of health services being provided to them. They were highly satisfied with the arrangements.
Dr MA Rather also interacted with local doctors and those doctors who have been deputed from Government of India and paramedical staff stationed at these places for the yatra and they were highly satisfied with the arrangements for them. He stressed them to work with zeal and dedication to provide best health facilities to visiting yatris.
He also asked Yatra Officer DHSK to provide best possible health care services to the yatris. Pertinently, the Yatra commenced from 30 June on both Balthal and Pahalgam routes. Yatris from different parts of the country have thronged at the two places.
The director also inspected the food stalls and inspected the quality of food being provided to the yatris.
The government and DHSK have put in place elaborate health care arrangements. 70 health facilities are ready from Jawahar Tunnel to the holy cave on both routes including Chandanwari and Baltal, which includes six base hospitals, 11 Medical Aid Centres (MACs0, 12 Emergency Aid Centres (EACs) and 26 oxygen booths.
In addition to that, there are 11 on-route facilities, 17 other facilities which have been kept alert and more than 100 critical and basic care ambulances are available at both the routes. The oxygen booths have been increase from 14 to 26.
The director said all hospitals in the vicinity will have emergency response system in place and equipped with all facilities to work round the clock and adequate staff.
He said this year, on the directions of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, the directorate has established two dedicated 100-bedded DRDO hospitals at Baltal and Chandanwari.
The directorate has also put in place ICU beds and oxygen available on both sides and at least 1500 staff members are being deployed there to work in three shifts with additional residential accommodations for them at all levels.
