Unavailable around-the-clock
Times Panchanama: Sao Matias-Divar -- Tiswadi Isidore Domnick Mendes The villagers of Sao Matias on Divar island are in urgent need of a "24-hour resident doctor" at the primary health centre in the village. It has been an urgent need ignored by the powers-that-be over the years. Sao Matias has 3,500 residents and comprises six vaddos (wards) including Muddi, Igreja vaddo , Goddar , Vanzuem, Amboi and Belsur. While primary health centres all over Goa have a 24-hour resident doctor facility, Sao Matias along with neighbouring Goltim-Navelim village on Divar island does not seem to top the agenda of the state government for ensuring a round-the-clock availability of a doctor. The current incumbent is available only three times a week i.e. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and that too, for around four hours; between 9.30am and 1pm. "Lack of adequate health services, especially the unavailability of a doctor 24x7x365 is the biggest challenge facing our village. During nights, it is a nightmarish experience to rush a sick person, especially the ailing ones, all the way to the Goa medical college ( GMC) and hospital at Bambolim, or to a private hospital in Panaji. It is fatal fact that neither of the two village panchayats on Divar island have the services of a round-the-clock resident doctor," says Bernadette Azavedo, ex-sarpanch and a resident of Amboi. Concurs Brigida Menezes of Church vaddo, "One of the important indicators for development is a vibrant health service, but, Sao Matias and its surrounding villages are deprived of even a permanent doctor at the health centre." For years, the villagers have been raising their demand for a resident doctor. "Absence of a resident doctor not only puts unnecessary pressure on the town or city hospitals. It also aggravates the health concerns of both, children and the elderly. The authorities should pay heed and ensure that resident doctors are available in the villages situated on Divar island," states singer Saby Dias, known on the Konkani tiatr stage as 'Saby De Divar'. Dias is a resident of Naroa, which along with Malar and Capao/Vanxim, are also areas under the jurisdiction of the Sao Matias panchayat. "As there is no permanent stationing of doctors in the village, even for minor problems, be it a mild fever or cold, the villagers have to visit the GMC or other health clinics in Panaji. On the health front , the economically-weaker sections, in particular, end up as the biggest sufferers in the villages of Divar island. The village youth should be more vigilant and be in the forefront to get infrastructure in the island villages improved in terms of a completely-equipped primary health centre with facilities of admission in its wards for sick patients," says Christopher Menezes, another tiatrist known as 'Comedian 64', who acted in the recent Kala Academy award winning tiatr 'Modli Onnot'. "The 24-hour doctor facility will act as a great contributor to safe health. People in their post-retirement phase of their life are reluctant to stay in this village, because, the government doctor is not available around-the-clock. Good sense should prevail on the government to allot a government doctor who will be available around-the-clock at the primary health centre in Sao Matias. At the same time, all residents are proud of living on the island because of the serenity and tranquility enveloping the region," said Justin Coutinho of Amboi. Though in the past two months, a 108 ambulance has been stationed at the panchayat , the villagers, on condition of anonymity, state that since the villages of Divar island have a meager health facility, the ambulance should be exclusively centered for the villages of Divar island and not for the mainland like Old Goa or Dongorim as is currently happening. Sarpanch of Sao Matias panchayat Vaibhavi Sawant states that the panchayat will try its level-best to get a 24-hour facility of a resident doctor for the villagers. "We will take up this demand again in the next gram sabha and then make a fresh appeal to both the chief minister and the health minister. It is generally believed that lack of housing facility has been acting as a deterrent for doctors to take charge as full-time resident medical practitioners," she said. When contacted, Cumbharjua MLA Pandurang Madkaikar said, "There has been a fulltime doctor at the health centre. He met with an accident recently and is on leave. In fact, he was available to the people almost round-the-clock as he stays nearby. It's because he is on leave that another doctor who comes from another health centre is available thrice a week. Once he resumes, it will be normal." Problem Problem Bad roads The residents lament the condition of the roads in the village. "Almost the entire stretch of Sao Matias panchayat's road lies in a dire strait. It is a shame that a beautiful village has a pot-holed road," said Macxi Picardo of Igreja vaddo. Poor Bus Service Residents say they are severely inconvenienced by poor bus connectivity in the village. "The only bus service, that too operated by Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC) on the route from Old Goa to Naroa and back is limited, and runs at a span of 45 minutes to 1 hour. It will be of immense benefit to villagers if the frequency of the bus service is increased," says Justin Coutinho of Amboi. Ferry failure The residents complain of having to travel via an old ferry as well as embarking and disembarking at ferry points that lack illumination. "There is a dire need to replace the old ferry which caters to the needs of Divar island. Similarly, the hardly-lit ferry points on the Old Goa-Piedade route is crying out for illumination," said Aveena Pereira of Igreja vaddo. Top View We will take up this demand again in the next gram sabha and then make a fresh appeal to both the chief minister and the health minister Vaibhavi Sawant, sarpanch There was a full time doctor available, but, he had an accident recently. So someone is substituting for him. Once he resumes duty, things will be back to normal Pandurang Madkaikar, MLA People's take During nights, it is a nightmarish experience to rush a sick person, especially the ailing ones, all the way to the GMC at Bambolim or to a private hospital in Panaji Bernadette Azavedo, resident As there is no permanent stationing of doctors in the village, even for minor problems, be it a mild fever or cold, villagers have to visit the GMC or other health clinics in Panaji Christopher Menezes a.ka.'Comedian 64', resident Absence of a resident doctor aggravates the health concerns of both children and the elderly Saby Dias alias 'Saby de Divar', resident A little history The island village does have a rich legacy of famous children especially the distinguished Menezes families. Villagers hail the contribution by late Armando Menezes, civil servant , poet , writer and academician. His sons; George, is an ex-Indian Air Force officer , a HR consultant and writer, while the late Dr Francis was founding president of the Indian Association for the Study of Dreams as well as the Indian Society for Applied Behavioural Science. Another distinguished son of Sao Matias, Divar, is Cosme Matias Menezes, founder of the CMM group. Stay updated on the go with The Times of India’s mobile apps. Click here to download it for your device.
