Thiruvanthapuram: It is two coconut trees which stall the work at the Primary Health Centre, at Jagathy, according to Jagathy councillor Sheeja Madhu. She says that the contractor needs to cut the trees, but this would require the sanction of the council. It would be no exaggeration to say that the work to convert the Primary Health Centres (PHC) at Jagathy and Vattiyoorkavu into Family Health Centres is the slowest. Now, even as the DMO's office has started working towards the second phase of the FHC project, these remain the only two PHCs where work has not been completed.
Technically four other primary health centres-at Amachal, Thonnakkal, Kottukal and Karakulam-need to be inaugurated as FHC. But at all these places, the infrastructure is ready, according to DMO Dr P. P. Preetha. "The health centre at Amachal has already started working in two shifts, even though its official inauguration is yet to happen. Panchayath authorities have decided to wait for the minister's date for the inauguration of the health centres at Thonnakkal, Kottukal and Keezhattingal before they start working as FHC," she says.
Only a small amount of work remains at Jagathy and Vattiyoorkavu, according to the DMO. A month ago, when DC contacted, she had shared about the pending repair of Vattiyoorkavu PHC's compound wall. The wall needed to be repaired by the Corporation, according to her. K. Harikumar, councillor of Kodunganoor ward where the health centre is, says, "It is very complicated work, as it's 42-feet-high at different levels. It was conceived as two works. 15 metres have been repaired. Now, 70 metres remain to be built. However, work can start only after the rain. It might take two months for half the work to be complete." In the second phase, 41 other PHC will be elevated to become FHC. The list is getting finalised.
