Maternity hospital dies the death in 2 decades

This awfully dilapidated maternity hospital at Mandarbari village in Moheshpur upazila of Jhenidah needs immediate renovation to resume healthcare services in the area. Photo: Star

A ten-bed maternity hospital set up in 1965 at Mandarbaria village in Manderbaria union of Moheshpur upazila under the district has remained dysfunctional for the last 20 years, much to the sufferings of treatment seekers in the remote area.    
"The then Pakistan government set up this hospital on 49 decimals of lands here in 1965 when I was chairman of Mandarbaria union parishad. Patients, especially pregnant women in the remote area, were greatly benefited as operations were conducted and medicines given free here," said Rabiul Islam, 91, former chairman of Mandarbaria UP.
But as the building developed cracks, it was declared abandoned in 1994 and doctors and nurses were transferred elsewhere, said sources at the district family planning office.
"Once the maternity hospital provided medical services to around a hundred patients daily. If the hospital building is renovated and services resume, more rural women will get treatment for low costs," said Mosabbir Hossain, a retired peon of the hospital.
Dr Jahid Ahmed, deputy director of family planning office in Jhenidah, said, "The functions of the hospital were stopped in 1994 and the building was declared abandoned due to its dilapidated condition. I have forwarded several letters to Public Health Engineering Department for starting its renovation work. We are waiting for allocation of fund for the purpose."