SHILLONG, AUG 26: In what could only be described as ‘bizarre’ , a resident of East Jaintia hills district Graham Lyngdoh had to stand up against the alleged authority given to a chowkidar of the Jowai Civil hospital to examine his niece which led to a ruckus forcing him to file an FIR against the chowkidars and medical health officer (M&HO) of the hospital.
Lyngdoh, a resident of Tuber Kmai Shnong village, demanded that the authorities stop such practice that tantamount to harassment’ to the public by hospital authorities.
“The authorities concerned should make it a point that such incident is not repeated in the future by taking appropriate steps and measures,” Lyngdoh told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday.
According to him, it is not appropriate and acceptable for a chowkidar, who is not medically qualified, to conduct pre-medical examination on a patient.
Recalling the incident that took place on August 19, he said, “After he and his family protested to the pre medical examination by the chowkidar, the M&HO on night duty came out and threatened to call police to pick me up.”
This led to a scuffle where another chowkidar of the hospital came and punch him on his eye, Lyngdoh alleged adding that he had to challenge that if they take him for a medical checkup, the same should be done to the two chowkidars, who were in inebriated condition.
Lyngoh also express surprised that the M&HO did a turnaround by refuting that he never said that chowkidar can do the pre-medical examination due to shortage of nurses in the hospital.
“But the M&HO had admitted to the fact that the chowkidar were allowed to examine patient, in front of the Officer In-charge of Phra Mer Ooutpost, who had summoned both the parties on August 20,” Lyngdoh claimed.
He also claimed that the M&HO along with the two chowkidars had also apologized to the family in the police outpost but he said the family has decided not to compromise on this case.
Meanwhile, the Jaintia Students’ Movement (JSM) had demanded that the government institutes a magisterial inquiry and take action against erring staffs of the hospital.- By Our Reporter
It is expected that the media take the initiative by publishing this bizarre incident in the front page until the higher authorities take action against the culprits. When the culprits are punished then only this type of incident will not recur. I would be awfully grateful to the media.