Buildings ‘unsafe’, two PHCs will be shifted soon

Gurgaon: Two primary health centres (PHCs) have got the permission to shift to alternative sites as their existing buildings have been declared ‘unsafe’ by the public work department (PWD). These PHCs are Bhondsi and Kasan and they will function from their nearest available site till their new buildings are ready, officials said.
Each PHC caters to more than 2 lakh people.
These centres focus on vulnerable areas of the city and work on improving public health, especially focusing on slums and similar habitations where vulnerable people reside.
“The building of PHC Kasan has been declared unsafe and the PHC Bhondsi building is also beyond repair. Both the PHCs part of the municipal corporation, thus, the health department is not seeking land,” said Virender Yadav, chief medical officer, Gurgaon.
Kasan being an industrial area is a very important PHC as it caters to more than 2 lakh people, while PHC Bhondsi, which is close to Gurgaon-Sohna-Alwar highway, plays a crucial role.
Realising the importance of these health centres, Gurgaon deputy commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav approved their shifting to alternative sites. “As the PHC Kasan and Bhondsi need to be shifted thus it has been allowed to use the community centre of Kasan and five rooms and a hall of the community centre in Bhondsi. No rent has to be paid,” the order by the DC stated.
The city has been strengthening its health care facilities.
By the end of January, the city will have 11 urban health and wellness centres. The plan is to open a total of 40 such centres by March end to fill critical gaps in health infrastructure. The objective is to improve surveillance and health research in both urban and rural areas so that communities are equipped in managing pandemics or other public health crises, officials said.