Thousand Sayantan meets Pijush Hazarika, places demand for improved health infrastructure

August 27: It has been a long standing demand and necessity to upgrade the existing Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) into a medical institution of high standard with all modern amenities so that the patients of South Assam need not rush to Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Shillong or to other parts of the country for better treatment. On Thursday, the members of Thousand Sayantan met Pijush Hazarika, MoS, Health and Family Welfare in Silchar. They also submitted a memorandum to him demanding improved infrastructure of health facilities at Silchar Medical College & Hospital (SMCH).

The issues raised by Thousand Sayantan are:

• Materialization of Full-fledged Angioplasty treatment facility in SMCH by October 2020
• Materialization of Full-fledged Neurosurgical treatment facility in SMCH soon
• Appointment of Permanent Cardiologist, Cardio surgeon. Neurologist, Neurosurgeon. Nephrologists in SMCH at the earliest.
• To meet up all deficiencies and upgrade all treatment facilities and service in SMCH.
• Materialization of DPR (upgradation of SMCH) prepared by SMCH Team (sent to Govt this February ) and upgradation of SMCH at par with GMCH before Puja (October, 2020).

Expressing their views, the members of Thousand Sayantan told that they are satisfied at the outcome of the meeting with the minister. They said, “The minister gave a patient hearing to the demands raised by us. He gave his consent regarding our demands of initiating the Angioplasty facility at SMCH by this October and materialization of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared by the SMCH team. We appreciate such warm response from him.”

They further informed, “We also had a conversation regarding shortage of beds in the ICU, to which he gave his firm commitment that 40 more ICU beds shall be introduced within 12 days at SMCH.” Pijush Hazarika urged upon the members of Thousand Sayantan to try and convince people for plasma donation so that more lives can be saved at this hour of the pandemic.

It needs mention here that there are certain deaths which leaves a deep scar in the hearts and minds of all around and subsequently bequeaths an undying imagery to posterity. Such a death was that of a 25-year youth Sayantan Chakraborty, who on 8 October, 2019, breathed his last on the day of Bijoya Dashami. Sayantan Chakraborty complained of severe chest pain. He was then rushed to SMCH, where the doctors prescribed immediate angioplasty. However, as this facility was unavailable at SMCH, he was referred to Shillong NEIGRIHMS. But unfortunately, Sayantan breathed his last on his way to Shillong. It is after this incident that the friends of Sayantan Chakraborty upholded the miserable plight of health facilities at SMCH and formed the organisation “Thousand Sayantan”. Their main demand is to upgrade the SMCH so that more Sayantans need not die without treatment.