A 33-year-old resident of Nallong in the Kuilong area of Tamei under Tamenglong district, Manipur was compelled to be transported for medical treatment on a makeshift bamboo stretcher by local villagers to Peren district, Nagaland on Friday.
The situation is not uncommon for the inhabitants of Nallong and surrounding areas, where numerous tragedies have occurred in recent years.
Notably, on August 15, 2024, while the nation celebrated Independence Day, six critically ill patients were similarly carried on bamboo stretchers over long distances in urgent attempts to reach medical facilities.
Nallong Youth Club president Chamchangbou Pamai informed the Imphal Free Press that the region lacks essential medical services, motorable road access, electricity, and mobile or internet connectivity.
“There is no health centre in the area, with the nearest facilities located in Tamei and Peren in Nagaland,” he said.
“The absence of proper healthcare infrastructure has resulted in the loss of many lives and poses a continuous threat to the well-being of the villagers, attributed to the negligence of authorities and government of Manipur,” he said.
He alleged that the fundamental right to life and constitutional health rights are denied. Sadly, there has been no vehicle movement for the villagers since the month of May till date due to terrible road conditions, he added.
Despite repeated appeals to relevant authorities and the government of Manipur, these pleas to address the issues have gone unacknowledged, he lamented.
He further alleged that the villagers have received no support or solidarity from local leaders, MLAs, or the Health Minister.
The residents of Nallong and the Kuilong area have been systematically deprived of essential services, rights, and basic needs, enduring significant hardship for decades, he said.
The villagers urgently sought the attention and intervention of the Directorate of Health Services, local MLAs, and the Health Minister of Manipur to address the dire conditions facing their community.
