People Demand Child Care, Maternity Hospital in Kupwara
In a pressing demand to improve healthcare in the district, residents of Kupwara have called for the establishment of a dedicated child care and maternity hospital at the District Headquarters. This request is particularly urgent for people living in remote, snowbound areas like Machil, Keran, Tanghdar, and Jumagund. The move aims to provide relief to patients and reduce the need for referrals to distant cities.
Kupwara, located in the northernmost part of Jammu and Kashmir, faces unique healthcare challenges due to its difficult terrain and remote locations. The demand for a maternity and child care hospital has been ongoing for decades, with residents repeatedly urging the government to take action. They hope that this issue will finally be addressed under the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Relief for Remote Areas for building maternity hospital
According to Showkat Masoodi, the Civil Society Convener for Kupwara, the establishment of the hospital will significantly ease the hardships faced by the people in remote areas. “People from places like Machil, Keran, and Tanghdar, which are far from city hospitals, suffer the most. A maternity and child care hospital in Kupwara will provide much-needed care for high-risk pregnancies and others who need specialized care,” Masoodi said.
In areas where the nearest medical facilities are hours away, this move could save lives and reduce the need for families to travel long distances for treatment. Pregnant women, in particular, face the stress of traveling to Government Medical College (GMC) Baramulla or the LD Hospital in Srinagar, both of which can take several hours to reach, especially in winter months.
The Medical Community’s Support in building maternity hospital
Local healthcare workers have also voiced their support for the proposed hospital. A medical practitioner stated that such a facility would be a major relief for patients and help reduce the number of referrals to distant cities. “The travel from Kupwara to Srinagar is exhausting, and pregnant women often face long delays due to traffic jams. Most patients cannot afford the travel expenses, making a local hospital critical,” the doctor explained.
Currently, high-risk pregnancies and complicated cases are referred to GMC Baramulla or Srinagar. However, these long trips often lead to further health complications for expectant mothers. Establishing a hospital in Kupwara would drastically improve the quality of maternity care for local residents.
Government Land Available for the Project – maternity hospital
The residents have pointed out that there is plenty of available government land at the District Headquarters, which could be used to build the hospital. This would ensure that the project could be completed without significant land acquisition issues.
A Long-Standing Demand for child care and maternity hospital
Despite decades of requests, no government administration has yet been able to fulfill this demand. Kupwara residents have appealed directly to MLA Mir Fayaz and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to prioritize this issue. The people of Kupwara believe that establishing a maternity and child care hospital will bring much-needed relief to families who currently face numerous challenges in accessing basic healthcare services.
The community hopes that the Omar Abdullah-led government will take swift action on this issue, fulfilling the long-standing demand for improved healthcare services in the region. Many see this as a critical step toward ensuring the well-being of mothers and children in the district.
As the demand continues to grow, the people of Kupwara are waiting for a positive response from the authorities that could change their lives for the better.
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