Kohinoor Begum came to the community clinic adjacent to her home in Khulna to get treated for various complications including constipation.
Her husband Munsur Dhali died long back, and ever since she had to bear the responsibility of raising their children. In doing so, she remains grateful to the treatment dispensed at the Durjoni Mohol Community Clinic of Rupsha upazila in the Khulna district which is close to her home, else she would have been compelled to go to the Khulna General Hospital, a 5-km journey that would involve crossing a river.
This is why Durjoni Mohol has become the principal, almost only source of primary healthcare for people in her neighborhood.
A total of 203 community clinics are being run currently in Khulna district, making patients demand not only preliminary treatment at the clinic but also an expansion of the services offered the community clinic by appointing one medical officer.
Sufia Begum said she often came to the clinic seeking treatment for eye problems, diabetes, back pain and general physical weakness.
Another woman, Roshni Begum along with her daughter, also came to the doctor at the clinic for treatment.
Assistant Health Inspector of the Aichgati union Syed Mizanur Rahman said that people can be cured if they are aware of the health problems. According to him, most patients who visit the clinic, are women. The standard of service could be enhanced further if physicians, at medical officer or assistant medical officer-level, are appointed at the clinic.
Khulna Civil Surgeon Dr ASM Abdur Razzak said that the Community Clinic is one of the 10 initiatives of Prime Minister Shekh Hasina.
Health Engineering Department (HED) Khulna Information Officer and Assistant Engineer (Civil) Shebok Mondol said at present there are about 209 community clinics in the Khulna district, while construction work of 17 completely new model clinics continues. Of them, four have already been completed.
Besides, re-construction of 15 community clinics and repairs of 31 others are going on. Meanwhile, renovation work of 20 more have already been completed, he added.
Deputy Chief Information Officer of the Khulna Regional office M Javed Iqbal said that these 203 community clinics are providing health services to almost 8,000 people in Khulna every day, thus performing a vital public health function.
