By | Dr AR Lone
KUPWARA: In a major relief for the people of Karnah, the government has posted a full-time Paediatric Surgeon at Sub District Hospital (SDH) Tangdhar, addressing a long-pending demand of the border residents.
Karnah, a far-flung and difficult border area of Kupwara district, has long faced challenges in accessing quality healthcare. Families often had to travel long distances, sometimes across treacherous terrain and harsh weather, to seek specialised treatment for children in Kupwara or Srinagar. The absence of a paediatric specialist was deeply felt, especially in emergencies involving infants and children.
The Civil Society of Karnah has expressed gratitude to the Secretary of Health & Education and the Director of Health Services, Kashmir, for responding to the plea of the people and ensuring that a full-time paediatric doctor has now been posted at SDH Tangdhar.
Locals also acknowledged the persistent efforts of MLA Karnah Javaid Mirchal, who had been raising this demand at various platforms and continuously followed up with the authorities to ensure that the people’s voice was heard.
Residents said the move will save lives and reduce the suffering of parents who earlier had no option but to shift their ailing children outside the valley for even basic consultations. They also stressed that this step marks an important milestone in improving healthcare facilities in Karnah, though more efforts are still needed in terms of strengthening infrastructure, ambulance services, and diagnostic facilities.
Civil Society members reaffirmed that such initiatives help bridge the gap between border areas and urban centres, giving the people of Karnah a sense of inclusion and dignity.
