Structurally Unsafe Health Facilities in Thuraiyur

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News Summary

A primary health centre in Thuraiyur faces critical safety concerns as it operates from a structurally unsafe building, risking the health of over 36,000 residents.

Health Centre in Thuraiyur Risks Lives Amid Structural Deterioration

A Crumbling Facility

In the heart of Meikkal Nayakkanpatti, Thuraiyur, the primary health centre (PHC) is operating under alarming conditions. Declared *structurally unsafe* in 2023, the building—constructed in 1997—is prominently marked with a banner indicating that it is unfit for use. Approximately *ten staff members*, including two doctors, and various health workers, continue to conduct administrative tasks from inside the unsafe premises.

Patients visit with a range of medical issues every day, from insect bites to farming injuries, often finding themselves treated in two *asbestos-roofed sheds* that lack essential privacy and safety.

High Demand, Limited Resources

This PHC serves an extensive population of over *36,000 individuals* across 26 villages in a region dominated by agriculture. The daily footfall ranges from *70 to 100 outpatients*, a number that can spike to *150 on Mondays*. Given the community’s reliance on the PHC, the conditions have raised serious concerns among the staff about patient care and safety.

During a recent visit, an injured man was treated in the open shed due to the absence of an emergency room, highlighting the dangers of the *dilapidated condition* of the health facility. Staff members have voiced their frustrations regarding the lack of safe working conditions and the absence of adequate alternative spaces for equipment and medical supplies.

Facility Deterioration

The deterioration of the original building is apparent. Staff have reported *cracked roofs*, leaking ceilings, and shattered floor tiles, leading to an uncomfortable and unsafe environment for both medical providers and patients. While the PHC supervises six health sub-centres, it barely provides basic lab services, limiting diagnostics like sugar testing to referrals at a government hospital located in *Kattupudur*.

Adding to the community’s woes, a maternity block—constructed a decade ago—is structurally sound yet remains under-equipped, forcing reliance on the damaged building for essential medicines and staffing. Deliveries at the PHC are discouraged due to continuous safety concerns, particularly for high-risk pregnancies needing specialized care. Patients like local farmer K Elavarasan were advised to go to Namakkal, a government facility located 20 kilometers away, for safer delivery options.

African Past, Uncertain Future

The local reputation of the hospital as a sanctuary for safe deliveries has taken a hit, leaving residents worried and searching for alternatives. Meanwhile, district health officials have intervened, having submitted a condemnation approval along with a reconstruction estimate in a bid to address these issues.

Funding for reconstruction is anticipated from the National Health Mission as part of allocations under the *15th Finance Commission*. The *sanction for funds* is believed to be on the horizon, yet the uncertainty looms for the health facility and its critical role in the community.

Critical Needs Remain

As residents continue to rely on this primary health centre for crucial healthcare services, the calls for urgent action grow louder. Safety cannot remain compromised within the very walls meant to safeguard health. The community now awaits swift action to reconstruct and rehabilitate this vital health facility, ensuring it is once again a safe haven for over 36,000 lives it diligently serves.

In a region where health access is vital, having a facility compromised by structural inadequacies poses an urgent need for attention. The wait for funds and the commencement of reconstruction reflects the pressing need for proactive measures in maintaining healthcare infrastructure—affecting lives, one treatment at a time.