Child and maternity hospital shut down in Udupi

The Child and Maternity Hospital, which had served the common people in Udupi district for over 80 years, was shut down on September 24, following a government order.

The hospital which was christened — Haji Abdullah Hospital — was a blessing in disguise for the poor, who could not afford healthcare facilities from private hospitals in the district, eight decades ago. The hospital also catered to the needs of the patients from neighbouring districts as well.

The hospital, as per the order issued by the government, is being shifted to the newly built Government Koosamma Shambhu Shetty Haji Abdullah Memorial Hospital owned by NRI entrepreneur Dr B R Shetty.

An outpatient unit in the hospital was opened in July and the several services provided at the Child and Maternity Hospital were transferred to the Government Koosamma Shambhu Shetty Haji Abdullah Memorial Hospital.

The Child and Maternity Hospital was built on the land donated by late philanthropist Haji Abdullah in 1930. He had given the land for the service of poor in 1930. The hospital has been currently handed over to BRS Ventures on a 30-year lease.

The Child and Maternity Hospital had 31 employees, including six doctors. The government has currently deputed four specialist doctors to the Government Koosamma Shambhu Shetty Haji Abdullah Memorial Hospital as a temporary arrangement. The remaining employees and two doctors are waiting for the government order to continue their service.

Letter to government

District Surgeon Dr Madhusudhan Nayak told DH that he has written a letter to the government over pending order in connection with the shifting of the medical and paramedical staffers who were working in the Child and Maternity Hospital.

He said that he has appealed to the government to shift them to the District Government Hospital at Ajjarakadu. The patients will now avail of the benefits at Government Koosamma Shambhu Shetty Haji Abdullah Memorial Hospital. The discharge formalities of a few patients who are admitted to the Child and Maternity Hospital will be completed within four to five days, he added.

He said some medical equipment in the hospital will be sent to the Vijayapura Government Hospital as per the instructions issued by the government.

The Child and Maternity Hospital had served 4,64,176 patients in the last three years.

Social activists Vishu Shetty and S S Thonse said, “The staffers of the Child and Maternity Hospital should be deputed to Ajjarakadu Government Hospital instead of transferring them to other districts and taluk hospitals. Ajjarakadu Government Hospital already faces an acute shortage of staff and basic infrastructure amenities as well. There is a conspiracy to transfer the staffers to Kusamma Shambhu Shetty Memorial Haji Abdullah hospital.”