A rented house is where Islampur union’s health and family welfare centre was relocated a decade ago as the actual facility remains unused since then because of legal hassles, causing locals to suffer badly.
Back in 1990, the actual medical centre was built in Chhanbari Bazar of the union at a cost of Tk70 lakh to provide medical services for around 15,000 people of nearby villages, including Chhanbari, Ratanpur, Gangpar, Rasnagar and Bahadurpur.
Ownership of the land where the facility was built on was the subject of a lawsuit and the court verdict went in favour of the owner, resulting in the healthcare centre’s closure in 2002.
About five kilometres from the health and family welfare centre, a derelict building in Baishakandi was then rented to relocate the facility.
But its surroundings have turned bushy and the exterior is heavily covered with moss, making it a rather eerie place. The doors and windows are also broken.
Binod Kumar Sinha of Rasnagar village said the union’s transport facilities are poor which is a key reason why reaching the new location is a difficult task. “Women and children are particularly bearing the brunt of the unsatisfactory communication system.”
Abdul Hannan, who lives in Nijgaon village, said Chhatak Upazila Health Complex is located 15 kilometres from his village and it takes three hours or more to reach there.
“This is risky especially for dying patients and pregnant women as the union healthcare centre, which is nearer than the upazila health complex, is not easily reachable either because of poor transport systems,” he said.
The lack of access to medical care forces locals to hinge on quacks and midwives, said Abdul Khaleq of Gangpar village.
Ayesha Begum, a government official who oversees operations of the health and family welfare centre, said medical services provided to patients at the rented building are limited.
“The original facility is a government property and it is not being used for long. That is why local people are not getting proper healthcare services,” she said.
Family Planning Officer of Chhatak Upazila, Joynul Abedin, said the original facility can be reopened only if the owner of the land agrees to donate the plot to the health authorities.