Months after distress, Ajekaru PHC still the same

Mangaluru 

Months after unseasonal rains first exposed the crumbling condition of the Ajekaru Primary Health Centre (PHC), little has changed on the ground. The initial outcry had raised hopes of swift intervention, but the hospital continues to function in the same fragile state, with only assurances offering a sense of relief. The early rains had revealed a worrying picture - leaking roofs, water entering wards and temporary tarpaulin sheets put up to keep services running.

Today, those very tarpaulins remain in place, underlining the lack of permanent repairs. What was meant to be a stopgap arrangement has quietly become the norm. Constructed in the 1960s, the building has aged beyond its capacity. Roof tiles remain loose, wooden supports weakened, and parts of the ceiling continue to show signs of collapse. Staff members, who once raised alarm after a portion of the roof fell inside the premises, now go about their duties with constant caution.

Despite the risks, patient inflow has remained steady. More than 400 people continue to visit the PHC daily, travelling from nearby villages such as Hirgana, Hermunde, Shirlalu, Kerwashe and Kadtala. For these communities, the centre is not optional, it is essential. The bigger concern now is the approaching monsoon.

If pre-monsoon showers were enough to disrupt services, the fear is that sustained rains could push the facility to the brink. Water seepage continues to threaten equipment, medicines and electrical systems, raising both safety and operational concerns. The demand to upgrade the PHC into a Community Health Centre has been pending for years, but progress has remained elusive. Residents say repeated representations have yielded little more than acknowledgements, while the building continues to deteriorate.

Earlier, V. Sunil Kumar had stated that proposals seeking government funding had been submitted twice, but no allocation had been made. In the absence of state support, attention had shifted towards Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding. According to him, Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited was approached to take up repair and upgradation works under its CSR initiative. While this announcement had sparked optimism at the time, months later, there is still no visible progress on the ground.

For the staff and patients, the wait is becoming harder to justify. Assurances have come and gone, but the reality inside the hospital remains - leaking roofs, damp walls and an ever-present sense of risk. The Ajekaru PHC now stands as a stark reminder of delays that matter. With every passing day, the urgency grows. What is needed is not another promise, but action-before the next spell of rain once again turns concern into crisis.