SRINAGAR: Haba Khatoon maternity and Children’s hospital in Noor Bagh locality of Downtown Srinagar is awaiting completion from the last ten years, aimed to reduce burden on Soura and Lal Ded hospital.
The locals slam administration over lack of interest in this project, and say that they have to spend hefty money on tests and other checkups at local clinics.
“This hospital was started in the year 2009 with budget of Rs 11.54 crore, but there is no headway in the work,” the locals said, adding there are few doctors posted there and it works like a dispensary.
“I am four months pregnant and I have to go to private clinics for different tests in absence of maternity hospital in the locality. It would have been better if this hospital will be made fully functional.
We prefer to visit other maternity hospital for general checkups,” said Naziya Jan, a resident of Noor Bagh.
Bashir Ahmad, a local said that this hospital was meant to lessen the burden of Soura maternity hospital and Lal Ded.
“But it looks like this project has become a burden for the government,” he said.
According to the officials, there are four doctors and 25 paramedics posted in this hospital.
“We treat patients in general and expecting mothers. We treat pregnant women till the nine month and then refer them either to Gousia hospital or Jawala Lal Nehru Hospital Rainwari. If hospital administration)feel any complication, they refer patients to Lal Ded hospital,” said a doctor posed on this hospital.
He said, “We are also waiting for the completion of this hospital as it would reduce the burden of Soura maternity hospital and JVC Bemina.”
“Recently administration has sent a proposal to the government for creation of different posts and we are waiting for the response,” he added.

NAZIMA SIDIQ