Upcoming 50-bedded Jiribam Hospital
one of the best constructed hospitals waiting for inauguration

Dr Th Suresh *

Jiribam (also known as Jiri), a border town between Manipur and Assam in April 2013 :: Pix - Daniel Chabungbam

In one of my previous series in this column, how the money encashment for the 4 district hospitals (Tamenglong, Senapati, Ukhrul, Chandel) and 1 at Jiribam, and the land acquisition for the same was done was dealt with extensively. In the same article, the acquisition of 10 acre at Aglapur (Harinagar) of Jiribam with the help of present Hon'ble Revenue and Forest Minister T. Devendra Singh was also described in detail. Hence, I will not repeat it again here.

The pertinent point to repeat is the fact that I personally selected this side along with the Hon'ble minister (local MLA) with the aim of further expansion up to 100-beded one. A sum of Rs 22.49 crore of the total project cost of Rs 64.26 crore was encased during my last financial year i.e. 2007-08 just before I demit office was also highlighted. This comes to around Rs 4.5 crore each.

I visited the hospital on 24th May this year and show the progress. It is almost 90% complete. Fortunately the contractor and his team were there along with some local leaders. It was fortunate that they recognise me along with the contribution I made for this hospital. It was so nice of them; I had that immense satisfaction that, though late, the hospital is coming up beautifully.

Seeing the inside structure and others, it is found that the hospital is nicely constructed with all the quality maintenance required of such a hospital. There was enough space for various sections eg. OT, lab, x-ray, central sterilisation and others. What is striking is that the contractor, Shree Megha, was very understanding, helpful and forward looking. He is always trying to maintain high quality in all aspects as if his reputation is at stake. I have conveyed my real appreciation to him for his +ve attitude. Nowadays, it is rare to find a contractor like him. I wish Government should encourage contractors like him.

Not only the hospital, a lot of quarter complexes enough to accommodate various employees have also been completed. Health Deptt's previous habit of constructing hospitals without electricity and water supply provision is not seen here. This is a marked improvement.

I am told that a Medical Directorate team visited recently to finalise water supply scheme and separate transformer as our Hon'ble CM had instructed to complete the same with the promise of availability of needed fund. As in my time, our CM is always ready to help our Health Deptt. It is a different matter that our doctor-administrators are not able to cash on this favourable attitude.

What is worrying me is the non-availability of various manpower, specially specialist doctors. With many posts vacant in the deptt. and no DPC conducted for several years, we have to frequently worry whether this hospital, after inauguration, will be able to run properly with due health care expected from such a hospital. The same is true for the upcoming other district hospitals. Remember, the last DPC (except doctors) was held in 2007 during my time.

The deptt. has also to think of out-of-box idea of bringing enough specialist doctors to serve these district hospitals. For Jiri hospital, it will not be bad to catch specialist doctors from the neibouring Silchar who had a medical college. We will require special efforts to catch fresh PG holders from that college by early contact and negotiations. It requires the deptt's extra skill, dedication and manoeuvrability. It will be worthwhile for our Hon'ble ministers and bureaucrats to read my earlier article on JNIMS where important suggestions were highlighted.

With the already availability of 24x7 electricity at Jiribam and the promised 24x7 water supply for the hospital complex, it is indeed heartening to learn that it will be inaugurated soon. I wish the doctors and other staff would shift sooner than later to the complex before inauguration.

As stated above, it was planned to upgrade to a 100-bedded one. To this, I can add another one- that of converting into a medical college. This will serve as a catchment area for the neibouring Tamenglong, CCpur and neibouring states of Mizoram and Silchar. Access for CCpur and Mizoram will be easy once the coming up Taithu bridge connecting Jiribam is inaugurated. One will not find a better hospital other than this in our state for converting into a medical college.

As done in JINIMS, your witter is willing to prepare the project report for this proposed medical college voluntarily, if asked. The same may be submitted to Delhi just after inauguration. I don't fandom any reason for rejecting the same by Modi's Niti Ayog. The only thing left to do is – to mark another 20 acre land around the hospital complex to fulfil IMC norm. This will also save us the mad rush of patients to Imphal. This will also save us from the repeated blame-game of concentrating everything around greater Imphal area.

I will be failing in my endeavour if I do not mention the proposed 24x7 water supply. One will not find this facility in any existing /coming up hospital of the state. I also personally feel happy that I personally earmarked the northern boundary of the hospital up to the big drainage channel where enough water is available for emergency water supply. It is now included in the proposed water supply.

I wish everything should be kept sand-witched ready to inaugurate in spite of consuming 8yrs. in construction. For the 1st time your writer feels happy seeing from the sideline.