| Lesson we never learned …. This Week ,all the official machinery will be busy ,in highlighting the achievements of their government in giving “A” grade for their work done in earth quake areas, which struck kashmir on the fateful morning of 8 th October 2005 But the story on the ground is different, we never learn from our past mistakes same is the case now ,the kashmir has been in war like situation for last 16 years almost 80,000 dead ,uncounted injured and permanently handicapped and tragedy is that these figures have no matching with official figures, lost in blame game….Alas! Our hospitals are same or even detoriated as per mci norms (health regulatory body in India) not a single general hospital was built since part ion of India and Pakistan in which Kashmir lost its unique identity. With no trauma centers in Kashmir that is need of hour or to speak of any new general hospital coming up in Kashmir in last 60 years The callous and indifferent attitude can be judged by the fact that, we even don’t have Skelton ambulances services, even in capital city of kashmir, srinagar.which almost every hour of day has to face blast and gun fire, which could transport injured and thus save precious lives of inhabitant of srinagar city which stretches only less than 20 SQKms For setting up dire needed ambulances services in Kashmir, neither government Nor any NGO took any initiative for setting up ambulance services and silver lining is it does not cost heavens Last year American based NGO (KER) Kashmir earthquake response was working in Kashmir during earthquake, Apart from working in earthquake zones and they wanted to intervene in agro-socio- heath sectors As a part of agro –socio- health sector intervention, they prepared preliminary report on ambulances services and came with rough estimated that to cover Srinagar city with State of art ambulances of international standard on the pattern of world famous 911 ambulances. There report says Srinagar city will initially need eight ambulances based on population density located at vital points managed by (AVL) automatic vehicle locator so that they can be dispatched to scene of dire need, through central call dispatch unit Trained paramedic and driver to deliver life saving treatment at doorstep and transfer same to nearest hospital if needed under medical supervision. This ambulance system will have two ambulances for quick reaction teams for major disaster manned by trained staff to handle crisis and do triage on spot. The report estimated it should not cost more than 20, 00,000 US dollars, which is roughly eight million Indian rupees Peanuts for state, or for any NGO or business houses ,these business houses every quarter of financial year claim to make huge profits, they could invest just fraction of their profits, and in return would had earned laurels and more ever even benefits in taxes too . However, this golden and prestigious humanitarian project was not taken up by KER reasons best know to them, or may be there was fatigue or lack of trust on their own people and appeal continues to the philanthrophilic people to take up this project and save precious and neglected inhabitants of Kashmir. Which is called paradise on earth, where death haunts every inhabitant every breath…….. Dr Niyaz A Jan |
HELPING HAND
