NO ROAD, HOSPITAL SHUTS DOWN

By Prachee Kulkarni, Pune Mirror |

Updated: Mar 27, 2018, 02.30 AM IST Road_To_Aapla_Gahr

Charitable facility providing succour to 14 villages closes doors after begging all for a decent approach road over 8 years The quest for getting an approach road has so frustrated the trustees of Kausalya Bai Karad Hospital that they have now decided to shut down the facility. Villagers from 14 surrounding villages, who are dependent on the hospital, are shaken by the decision and have requested the trustees for a rethink. Zilla parishad authorities have meanwhile claimed that the work on the hospital road will start soon.

When Vijay Phalnikar, founder of Aapla Ghar NGO and orphanage, set up the well-equipped hospital in Donje village, he had never imagined he would be treating patients for injuries sustained on the approach road to the facility. But this has now become a routine affair for doctors from the hospital. The doctors not only have to worry about the treatment of patients but also whether asking the patients to visit on post-surgery follow-ups would be safe. All because the approach road to the hospital is in a pitiable condition despite having been constructed just two years ago.

Phalnikar said, “I have been following up with the authorities and politicians for the last eight years. Besides submitting petitions to the grampanchayat and the zilla parishad authorities I met MLA Bhimrao Tapkir and MP Supriya Sule. Each one of them promised to look into the matter but nothing happened. The road lies in the same condition and travelling on it is an ordeal. We had spent almost Rs 45 crore on the construction of the hospital. But we feel that all of this has gone in vain because we have failed to get this road constructed which cannot cost anything beyond Rs 40 lakh. Our trustees are now tired of following up and have asked me to shut the hospital.”

Patients are suffering too. Archana Kurbu, who works as a labourer in Donje village, was taking her daughter to the hospital which is barely a kilometre from her place when both of them fell and sustained injuries. On their way to the hospital, her brother who was driving the bike they were on, lost control due to loose stones on the road causing injuries to both mother and daughter. While Archana suffered minor injuries, the daughter had to get eight stiches on her forehead as she hit her head against a stone.

Archana said, “We are from Solapur. We moved to this village a few days ago. Since this is the only hospital in the vicinity which gives proper treatment and for free I decided to come here for consulting the doctor. But the condition of this road is absolutely pathetic. My daughter is in so much pain. While her fever, for which I had originally come here, is cured I have to now keep coming to the hospital to get her fresh wound cleaned and the dressed. All of this because of the road.”

While the patients are suffering, the employees of the hospital are not an exception. Along with the task of travelling daily on this road, they also have to face the anger of villagers for not reaching on time. Vaibhav Padmane, ambulance driver, said, “People call an ambulance in emergencies. But due to the condition of the road we cannot reach on time. Who will explain this to villagers? Once I was called to neighbouring Padalwadi and the patient died even as I was negotiating the road. The villagers were so angry that they held me hostage. Phalnikar sir had to intervene to bring me back.”

People who visit Aapla Ghar for giving donations suffer too. Ajinkya Chavan said, “We had collected onions for donating to the orphanage. While we kept the gunny bag on the scooter, we had to stop and collect the onions from the road because the bag tore as it couldn’t bear the weight due to the condition of the road.”

Interestingly the road was apparently ‘constructed‘ only two years ago. Phalnikar added “We even got a donor to fund for the construction. But the grampanchayat authorities did not let us construct it. The donor had only one condtion that they would do the maintenance of the road and if the grampanchayat authorities want to dig it for any reason they will have to take permission. The grampanchayat members refused to give a no-objection certificate citing this as a reason.”

Responding to the decision Phalnikar has taken, MP Supriya Sule said, “The trustees of Apla Ghar are trying to work selflessly for the society. I feel that Ishould support them in any problems they face. Society needs such organisations. I will follow up with the zilla parishad and ensure that the work is completed before the rains set in.”

Suraj Mandare, chief executive officer of the zilla parishad, was taken aback when he heard of the decision of closing the hospital. He has reportedly requested Phalnikar not to take such a drastic step. He said, “I came to know that they are planning to shut down the hospital. I enquired into the issue and sent my officers for a survey immediately. We have approved Rs 32 lakh and will ensure that a good tar road is constructed soon.”