Karnataka: Uttara Kannada residents use Twitter trends to demand hospital

The sudden Twitter trend had its origins in a horrific ambulance accident on 20 July at a toll plaza near Byndoor, which resulted in the death of four people.

CCTV footage from the toll plaza showed the ambulance losing control before crashing into the pillar of a toll booth. 

Karwar-based journalist Devaraj N told South First, “Politicians must pay attention to the growing demand of establishing a well-equipped hospital. Uttara Kannada has been waiting for it for a long time.”

The Uttara Kannada district has 11 taluks and a population of 15.46 lakh, but the government-owned Karwar Institute of Medical Sciences does not appear to meet the expectations of people. 

Devaraj explained, “Karwar Institute of Medical Sciences has inadequate health infrastructure.”

A miffed Twitter user by the name of Yashita Naik said, “We need an emergency hospital in Uttara Kannada district. We are not going to cast our precious vote in the upcoming election until we get a multispeciality hospital. [sic]”

Suraj G Naik, another Twitter user, demanded, “Being one the largest districts of Karnataka, Uttara Kannada district still has poor medical facilities. There is an urgent need for multispeciality hospitals to save the lives of peoples of Uttara Kannada district. [sic]”

Being one the largest districts of karnataka, uttarakannada district still has poor medical facilities. There is a urgent need of multi speciality hospital to save life of peoples of uttarakannada district. #WeNeedEmergencyHospitalInUttaraKannada#NoHospitalNoVote pic.twitter.com/av1W9V8OFw

— Suraj G Naik (@yoursurajnaik) July 24, 2022

The Twitter trend managed to elicit support from Karnataka’s Leader of Opposition and veteran Congress leader Siddaramaiah.

He tweeted that he fully supported the “struggle” of the people of Uttara Kannada for a well-equipped emergency treatment system.

He said in the tweet that he was urging the Central and state governments to listen to the grievances of the people with an open mind.

ಸುಸಜ್ಜಿತ ತುರ್ತು ಚಿಕಿತ್ಸಾ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಗೆ ಆಗ್ರಹಿಸಿ ಉತ್ತರ ಕನ್ನಡದ ಜನರು ನಡೆಸುತ್ತಿರುವ ಹೋರಾಟಕ್ಕೆ ನನ್ನ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ಬೆಂಬಲವಿದೆ.
ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಮತ್ತು ರಾಜ್ಯ ಸರ್ಕಾರಗಳು ಜನರ ಅಹವಾಲನ್ನು ಮುಕ್ತ ಮನಸಿನಿಂದ ಆಲಿಸಿ, ಸಮಸ್ಯೆ ಬಗೆಹರಿಸುವತ್ತ ಕಾರ್ಯಪ್ರವೃತ್ತವಾಗಬೇಕು ಎಂದು ಒತ್ತಾಯಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ.#WeNeedEmergencyHospitalInUttaraKannada

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) July 24, 2022

Meanwhile, Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar seemed to concur.

He said in a tweet that the Uttara Kannada district does indeed require a multispeciality hospital and trauma-care centre.

He added that he would discuss the matter with Bommai, and take a decision accordingly.

ಉತ್ತರ ಕನ್ನಡ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಗೆ ಒಂದು ಸುಸಜ್ಜಿತ ಮಲ್ಟಿಸ್ಪೆಶಾಲಿಟಿ ಆಸ್ಪತ್ರೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಟ್ರಾಮಾ ಕೇರ್ ಸೆಂಟರ್ ಅವಶ್ಯಕತೆ ಇದೆ ಎಂಬ ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕರ ಬೇಡಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಜಾಲತಾಣಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಗಮನಿಸಿದ್ದೇನೆ.

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— Dr Sudhakar K (@mla_sudhakar) July 25, 2022