𝐓𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐮 𝐁𝐇𝐔 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟

…𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒖𝒓𝒈𝒆 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒂𝒎𝒃𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒖𝒑𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒉𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔

By Kezang Choden

The Tendu Basic Health Unit (BHU) in Samtse Dzongkhag is facing a critical shortage of emergency transport services, prompting urgent calls from the community for an ambulance to serve the area, including neighboring Norgaygang Gewog. At present, emergency cases from Norgaygang Gewog and nearby villages rely on the ambulance stationed at Tashichholing Hospital. Due to the long distance and challenging road conditions, response times often exceed four hours, leaving patients and their families in distress during critical situations.

Health officials and local residents have expressed deep concern over the delay in medical response, emphasizing that the lack of an ambulance at Tendu BHU poses serious risks to lives, particularly for pregnant women, elderly patients, and those suffering from severe illnesses or accidents. The provision of an ambulance at Tendu BHU would not only strengthen the healthcare delivery system in the southern gewogs but also ensure timely medical attention for more than a thousand residents living in remote and scattered settlements.

Residents and local leaders say the absence of this essential service has led to delayed emergency responses and, in some cases, the loss of lives. Dhan Bahadur Gurung, the Mangmi of Tendu Gewog, expressed deep concern over the issue. He shared that although Tendu BHU was established more than 30 years ago, it still operates without an ambulance and is managed by only two male health workers. “With a total of 782 households depending on this health centre, the people are still suffering. There have been times when we have lost lives simply because patients could not receive timely treatment,” he said.

The nearest hospital for Tendu residents is located at Tashichholing, about 24 kilometers away. Dhan Bahadur Gurung shared that during the summer season, road conditions often worsen due to frequent blockages, further delaying access to medical care. “In emergencies, especially at night or during heavy rains, it becomes extremely difficult to transport patients. We rely on private vehicles or the gewog Bolero, which is risky and time-consuming,” Gurung explained. He added that the gewog Bolero is sometimes engaged in other official duties, leaving residents without any means of emergency transport.

Local residents have been appealing for an ambulance for years, emphasizing that the lack of timely medical transport has, in some cases, cost lives. They hope concerned authorities will address the issue urgently to improve healthcare access in the region. The community believes that with better health infrastructure and adequate staffing, the people of Tendu and nearby Norgaygang Gewog would finally receive the essential medical support they deserve.

Residents of Tendu Gewog have also raised growing concerns over the condition of the Tendu BHU, urging authorities to upgrade it to a hospital to meet the increasing healthcare needs of the community. Sita Limbu, a resident of Tendu, expressed that the facility currently struggles to cater to the large number of patients coming from different chiwogs. “People are often seen standing in long queues for medical check-ups, and sometimes they have to wait for hours due to the shortage of staff,” she shared. She also highlighted the lack of female health workers, saying that many women in the community feel uncomfortable seeking certain medical services from male staff. “Having at least one more female health worker would make a big difference, especially for mothers and young girls who require specific care,” she said.

According to Limbu, the absence of an ambulance adds further difficulty during medical emergencies. Patients must rely on private vehicles or gewog transport, which delays timely treatment. “An ambulance would be a life-saving facility for us. During emergencies, especially at night or during heavy rain, it becomes very risky to transport patients to the nearest hospital in Tashichholing,” she added. Limbu further pointed out that even the supporting staff at the BHU are insufficient.

At present, there is only one female caretaker, who manages both cleaning and other duties alone. “The surroundings of the BHU have become overgrown with bushes, increasing the risk of wild animals entering the premises. If there were more supporting staff, they could help maintain cleanliness and ensure safety,” she explained. Residents like Sita Limbu believe that upgrading the Tendu BHU to a hospital and increasing both medical and support staff would greatly improve healthcare access and safety for the community. The call reflects a growing demand for better rural health services across Samtse, where distance, road conditions, and limited facilities continue to challenge timely medical care.

The facility, which caters to a large population, is reportedly struggling with a severe shortage of medical staff and basic infrastructure. Residents report that the BHU is often managed by a single health assistant when other staff are engaged in official meetings, workshops, or field duties. During such times, people are left without access to even basic medical services. Minor injuries and common illnesses go unattended, forcing residents to either wait for the staff to return or travel long distances to seek treatment elsewhere. Bal Bahadur Subba, a resident of Tendu, said that the BHU has only four patient beds despite being established many years ago. He pointed out that the limited space and lack of staff make it difficult to accommodate patients who require observation or rest after treatment. “The BHU was built long ago, but the facilities have not improved much since then,” he shared.

The absence of an ambulance has further worsened the situation. In cases of emergencies, patients must rely on private vehicles or wait for transport from nearby areas, which often leads to delays in reaching the hospital. Residents recounted several instances where patients suffered severe complications or even lost their lives due to the unavailability of timely medical assistance. Community members are now urging concerned authorities to address these long-standing issues. They have appealed for the deployment of additional health workers, including female staff, and the provision of an ambulance to ensure that emergency cases can be handled more efficiently.

Shyam Kumar Gurung, the Gup of Norgaygang Gewog, shared that although maintenance works have been carried out inside the BHU, the community continues to face major challenges due to the lack of an ambulance. The nearest hospital is located at Tashichholing, about 41 kilometers away, making it extremely difficult for patients to reach medical services on time, especially during emergencies. Gurung expressed concern that the absence of an ambulance often delays the transportation of patients, putting lives at risk.

He mentioned that a total of 855 households in the gewog are suffering from similar challenges faced by the residents of Tendu BHU. The gewog is also struggling with a shortage of health staff, as only two health assistants are currently managing the entire BHU. Due to this shortage, the BHU is sometimes seen closed for several days when one of the staff members is away for official duties, meetings, or field visits. Residents are left without access to basic medical services during such times, forcing them to travel long distances to Tashichholing Hospital for even minor treatments.

Local residents have urged the concerned authorities to provide an ambulance and deploy additional health workers to ensure uninterrupted medical services. They expressed hope that improving the facility and staffing would greatly enhance healthcare delivery and reduce the risks faced during medical emergencies. Local leaders have appealed to the relevant authorities to prioritize this urgent need, stressing that equitable access to emergency healthcare is vital for rural communities. Residents remain hopeful that the request for an ambulance will soon be approved, bringing much-needed relief and safety to the people of Tendu and Norgaygang.