A number of community clinics in Tahirpur upazila of Sunamganj, Sylhet have gained a new lease on life, thanks to the WASH in Health project by NGO Efforts for Rural Advancement (ERA).
ERA is implementing the WASH in Health project at 13 community clinics out of 16 in the upazila. Under the project, training on clinic administration and management is being given to members of the community, while arrangements for safe water, sanitary latrines, hand washing facilities and safe delivery of babies are also provided.
An example of the success of the project can be seen at the community clinic at Baliajuri's Dakshinkul village. Having been built in 1999, the clinic remained abandoned until 2009 due to a lack of proper facilities. It was finally renovated under the WASH in Health project in 2016.
Hawarun Nessa and Maksura Begum are among the women to have given birth at the clinic in recent times. In addition to praising the free treatment and medicine provided, they also said they were impressed by the environment and the sincerity of health workers at the clinic.
"It is a great benefit for poor people like me," Hawarun said.
Whereas locals were earlier forced to travel to major hospitals in the upazila for treatment, hundreds of people of the village now go to the community clinic for their healthcare needs.
Debesh Chandra Talukder, manager of ERA's WASH in Health project, said: "The members of the community group and community support group are managing and maintaining the clinics. The access of disabled people in these clinics has also been ensured. Safe water, hand washing facilities, sanitary latrines, suitable rooms for normal delivery and healthcare for everyone, including the elderly people, children and pregnant women, is being ensured at these clinics."
Babul Mia, a member of Baliajuri Union Parishad and president of Dakshinkul Community Clinic, said the clinic was abandoned in the past as the members of the community did not understand their responsibilities.
“However, the education we received through ERA’s WASH in Health project has changed this, and we now know how to properly run a community clinic,” he added.
One of the measures that resulted from the training was the establishment of a community fund for the clinic. Donations are taken from all levels of the community to ensure that the clinic is self sufficient, Babul said.
WaterAid Bangladesh is providing financial and technical support to the WASH in Health project by ERA.
Md Liakath Ali, director of programmes and policy advocacy of WaterAid Bangladesh, said: "Establishing a community clinic to provide healthcare at the grassroots level is a timely and groundbreaking decision of the present government."
"It is not possible to ensure the quality of services, accountability of the service providers or sustainability in the clinics without public involvement. Keeping this goal in mind, WaterAid Bangladesh is implementing WASH in Health program in three districts including Sunamganj," he added.
Dr Ikbal Hossain, Tahirpur Upazila Health and Family Planning officer, said: ''Tahirpur has become an example for the administration and maintenance of community clinics by local management.''
This article was first published on banglatribune.com
Sunday, March 23, 2025
