Healthcare, education still elude them

Many residents of Remakri union in Bandarban's Thanchi upazila still lack access to healthcare and education, this correspondent observed after visiting 18 villages in ward 6 and 9 of the union recently.

More than 2,000 people from at least 300 families of Mro, Tripura and Marma communities have been living in these villages near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border for the last 30 to 35 years. Among them, 250 are children and adolescents.

The villages include Menhat Mro Para, Bulu Para, Tangkhwai Mro Para, Kowaing Khyong Para, Yong Dong Para, Yang bong Para, Mra khyang Para, Chandra Mohan Tripura Para, Loikkri Para, Ruiwai mro Para, Kongkong Tripura Para, Yong Klang Mro Para, Mangbase Marma (Malumgya) Para, Suryamani Tripura Para and Lai Pung Para Yangbong Para.

Health workers never visit the villages even when the government runs any national immunisation campaign, the villagers claimed. Besides, they remain illiterate as no government educational institutions have been opened there so far.

Mui Tong Mro, 75, head of Laikri Para, told The Daily Star that about 30 years ago, over 100 members of 20-22 families settled in Laikri Para. At present, about 250 people of 37 families of the Mro community live in this village.

"No health worker has visited us in 30 years," he claimed.

A woman in Kowaing Khyong Para gave birth to a baby only five days back without any supervision or help by any doctor and nurse. She did not have access to any prenatal care either, he said.

Also, no public school has been established at the village in the last  three decades. A non-government organisation, opened a school for the students up to class-4 in Laikri Para in January this year.

This is the only school in the 18 villages.

Two other locals -- Chandra Mohan Tripura and Kaing Yai Mro -- said no residents of the villages have ever been brought under the coverage of any national vaccinations programme and no pregnant woman ever received any healthcare or medical advice.

Manchong Mro, member of ward-6 in Remakri UP, told The Daily Star that as the area is very remote, transport cost is high. The only way to reach the villages is using the waterway via the Sangu river.

That's why health workers are not interested in visiting the villages, he said.

However, Bandarban district Health and Family Planning Department has won the national award for three consecutive years from 2020 for providing comprehensive health services to seven upazilas of the district, including Thanchi, sources at the department said.

According to the 2022 census, the population of Remakri union is 8,600, but according to the information of the union parishad, the figure is around 13,000.

Bandarban Civil Surgeon Mahabubur Rahman said all people have the right to have access to healthcare.

"I have come here recently. I don't know much about those areas. As far as I know, those areas are quite remote," he said.

To ensure health services for all, arrangements will be made to provide services under a special programme so that health workers visit the villages at least once in three months, the civil surgeon said.

District Primary Education Officer Md Abdul Mannan said according to the government policy, children in those villages will be brought under primary education if anyone donates a property for setting up a school and files an application as per the rules.