Community clinic services getting popular amid Covid-19

People living in the shoals of the Teesta river under Dimla and Jaldhaka upazilas of the district cannot visit the health complexes, about 18-20 km away from the area, due to travel restriction during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In this situation, they are now visiting nearby community clinics for getting heath care services. The community clinic services have now become very popular among the char people.

Trader Taibul Islam of Kisamoter char area said a few weeks ago, he fell sick due to gastrological problem and went to Dimla Upazila Health Complex but he had to return without any treatment as three employees of the hospital were Covid-19 positive.

Later, he went to nearby Pagalpara Community Clinic and took treatment and he is now well, said Taibul.

Farmer Ansar Ali of Akaskuri char in Dimla said as a diabetes patient earlier, he usually consulted the doctor of the upazila health complex but he is now taking free treatment from the community clinic near his home due to travel restriction for coronavirus outbreak.

Community Health Care Provider (CHCP) Mohabbat Hossain said everyday 80 to 100 patients from surrounding villages rush here and around 20 pregnant women visit the clinic for getting prenatal and antenatal services.

They used personal protection equipment (PPE) while attending patients, said Mohabbat.

Jaldhaka Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer (UHFPO) Abu Hasan Md Rezwanul Kabir said they are monitoring community clinic activities strictly as the government gives utmost priority to ensure health service to people at the grass root level. There is enough supply of medicine for primary treatment at 43 clinics in the upazila.

Sarwar Alam, UHFPO of Dimla, said they have appointed seven volunteers at 29 community clinics each who visit door to door to create health awareness and detect suspected Covid-19 positive patients for sample collection.

Contacted, Civil Surgeon Ranjit Kumar Barman said they have taken all-out measures to boost up community clinic service, which has now become very popular among people in remote areas during the crisis time.