The Urban health project ofInstitute of public health has begun working in KG Halli since 2009. When we came to the area, our first action was mapping all the health facilities in ward no 30. As we did the mapping we found two government facilities in the area. One was the urban health center which comes under BBMP and mainly focuses on the RCH Preventive programs and the RNTCP. Another one was the Primary health center, which is under the Karnataka state and family welfare wing. Interestingly these two physical structures share a common wall but one had to jump it informally to get to the other side. Psychologically this wall could not be crossed, as the health centre staffs are answerable to different bodies- state and corporation.
As the days moved on we noticed that near the PHC, new big posh buildings were being built. Somewhere in 2009, we heard news that this PHC had been upgraded into a CHC- Community health center. Months later, one of the new buildings started being used. As patients had been lining up in long queues in the hot sun, particularly during the Chikangunya epidemic, and the existing PHC size was insufficient, an interim agreement had been reached. Without the official inauguration, one building would be used for examining outpatients.
Meanwhile the posting of doctors remained frequent and unpredictable. For a while there was a string of specialists and rumor was that it would be a functioning trauma centre. Happily this idea was thought through and discarded and for much of the two years -2010 and 2011, a senior administrator with four interns managed the outpatient care, in the newly inaugurated, well lit OP building.
However, an operation theater had been constructed and we waited with bated breath to see how it would be put to use. For some time we had been campaigning for a sorely needed maternity center for the area. It appears that our prayers were heard, because, finally they posted a senior lady doctor in charge. However a team was still necessary and they had only one staff nurse on board.
Once the gynecologist Dr. Mangalagowri had taken then charge, things moved faster. She also realized the need, but the final hold up was in hiring the ‘D’ group staff.
We also put in a word with local Councilor to push for hiring the necessary staff, but unfortunately our councilor also remained unsuccessful.
The fully provided-for labor room should lose this new and unused look soon!”
At last, on 15th march 2012 we had news that the labor ward action is in action. The Community health center has now become a 24×7 health service. Now the community can access the maternity facility without any time limit. Dr. Mangalagowri said within a month two deliveries have been conducted and requested the urban health team to spread this news across ward.
