Varappuzha: Negligence of the Health Department officials and doctors caused misery to several differently abled people at a camp organised by the panchayat for their benefit. The panchayat had set apart Rs 6 lakh in the previous budget for buying aids for such people. Many people had submitted applications with the panchayat for such equipment and the camp was arranged to decide on the appliance needed for each person.
Hundreds of differently able people reached the Panchayat Community Hall where the camp was held early on Thursday morning. However, only the medical officer of the panchayat and a doctor from the Pallururthy Hospital arrived to examine the intended beneficiaries.
Several people with different disabilities like blindness, deafness and locomotor disabilities had arrived. However, no specialist doctors turned up and the two doctors present could not examine all the disabled people. Finally, almost all the handicapped left the venue empty handed.
Panchayat president K S Muhammed said that the District Medical Office had informed the panchayat that at least five doctors would be deployed for the camp. A complaint will be submitted to the District Collector and the Health Minister against the shoddy attitude of the health department officials, he said. An agitation will also be staged in front of the District Medical Office.
