Subrahmanya veterinary hospital provides no service

• No doctors or staff since three years

Subrahmanya: The Subrahmanya veterinary hospital building is in a good condition. But, when cultivators visit the hospital in search of treatment for their domestic animals, the hospital neither has doctors nor staff. The medicine inventory too is empty. Importantly, the hospital also does not have calcium tablets which in the first place it should never run out off. Due to this conspicuous lack of proper health service, the veterinary hospital has reached the heights of disorganization.

The veterinary hospital belonging to the Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Department is operating near Kashikatte. This hospital does not have a permanent doctor. The animal development official posted for Sullia has been additionally appointed to give service here. When the official was there, (even though little) at least emergency services were available. The official is now off on holiday and hence, even the little service which was available is no more.

.The cultivators from Subrahmanya town, and farm dominated areas of Yenekallu, Inakidu, Kallaji, Kaikamba and other rural areas used to make use of this centre. But now, due to the lack of proper health service for domestic animals, the people are left helpless. Thus, if a dog, cow, buffalo, goat, sheep, hens and other animals-birds show signs of deterioration in health, they simply have to return back home from the veterinary hospital due to the lack of doctors at the hospital.  

Discussion at GP

This area is dependent on agriculture and most of the cultivators are into dairy farming. . Of them, most rear cows and supply lots of milk to the milk dairies daily. If incase the cow grows sick, medicine has to be procured form far off places. Due to the lack of maintenance the veterinary hospital is in the state of dysfunction. The proposal of appointing a permanent doctor to the hospital has been put forth before the GP meetings. The division has also been written and submitted. Even then the hospital has not witnessed any betterment.

Work between stress

The responsibility of Subrahmanya has been given additionally to Dr Venkatachalapati who is already responsible for the veterinary health centre at Guttigaru. He is also been given the responsibility of the veterinary health centre at Kollamogru too. He is giving his service under the stress of bearing the responsibility for three centres.

Outrage on the Website

The localites have been outraged by the lack of doctors and medicines at the veterinary hospital since a long term. The news on the inefficiency of the Department has gone viral social networks has attracted much outrage. The locals are preparing to lay siege to the office soon and launch a protest.

Non-availability of emergency service for domestic animals

There has been no Veterinarian in the hospital since the last three years. Besides, even the assistant director, animal officer and the post of Veterinary Inspector have also remained empty. There is only one staff belonging to the Group D working here. Depending on the need, there is absolutely no emergency service available at this hospital.

No medicine storage

Appropriate drugs are not stored in this hospital. For de-worming the animals, the medicine available here is only in liquid form instead of tablets. If there was storage, the farmers would simply give the medicine to the animals as per their own assumed dosage. Even calcium powder is not available here.

Will notify government

“Along with doctors, there are many posts vacant and staff shortage in the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Department. We have been submitting the list to the government. We will once again write a letter to the government in regard to the problem at Subrahmanya Centre,” said Mohan, district deputy director, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Department, Mangaluru.

Article by Balakrishna Bhimaguli translated into English by Aaron Dmello