People in Chapainawabganj district hardly get necessary health services at the upazila health complexes as those are beset with multifaceted problems.
Almost all the health complexes in the district, including those in Nachole, Gomostapur, Bholahat and Shibganj upazilas, are unable to provide elementary treatment to the patients for acute shortage of medical and other staff and lack of related equipment and other logistics.
During recent visits to the health complexes, this correspondent found that although the seat capacities of the hospitals have been increased from 31 seats to 50 seats, but relevant staff, including doctors, have not been recruited to ensure services to the people of the areas.
Five posts for doctors at the Nachole Upazila Health Complex, while six posts at Bholahat, and eight posts at Shibganj have remained vacant for long period of time. Even, there is no qualified pathologist at the health complexes.
Child bearing mothers are the worst sufferers in the upazilas as the is no gynecology specialists and female gynecologists there.
The X-ray machines at Nachole and Gomostapur Health Complexes have remained out of order for long time.
Meanwhile, patients in Shibganj have to suffer a lot as the ambulance of the upazila health complex has remained malfunctioned for longtime.
Md Kabir came to take treatment at Bholahat Upazila Health Complex. He told the Dhaka Tribune that more than one lakh people of the upazila are dependent on the health complex for any kind of health problem. But they are deprived of desired health services due to lack of doctors.
“The ambulance of the health complex always remain out of order,” he said adding that the wards are not cleaned regularly.
Imon Reza came to Nachole Upazila Health Complex for taking treatment. Doctors advised him for X-ray of his leg.
“I have to go to Rajshahi for the X-ray now as the X-ray machine at the health complex is out of order,” he said.
“I am worried. I am really worried now. How will I manage the cost for going to Rajshahi,” he added.
Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Dr Md Salauddin, resident medical officer in-charge of Gomostapur Upazila Health Complex, said they are facing many problems in providing services to the patients due to lack of necessary doctors and other staff.
“There is no medical consultant a the health complex. We can not give treatment to any child bearing mother or women as there is not gynecologist or female doctor,” he said.
Dr M Alauddin, the civil surgeon of Chapainawabganj, admitted that they were facing severe problems in providing services at the upazila health complexes.
“We are facing difficulties to give treatment to the patients suffering complex diseases as here is no consultant at the upazila health complexes,” he said.
“We are trying to solve all the problems,” he said.