PM’s gift left to decay

A naval ambulance, gifted by the prime minister four years ago to ensure emergency health service for the shoal dwellers in Patuakhali, has been lying idle on the bank of Andharmanik river in Kalapara town.

The authorities are now trying to figure out what to do with the ambulance, which is mostly unusable. They also claimed they no longer needed it.

Meanwhile, with the ambulance lying unused, its driver is now working at Kalapara Upazila Health Complex in different roles…sometimes as a plumber while other times as an electrician.

The ambulance was gifted to the health complex in 2019 by the PM to facilitate prompt health services to shoal dwellers, said Dr Chinmoy Howladar, upazila health and family planning officer.

During a recent visit, this correspondent saw several holes on the vessel, which might cause it to sink when in operation.

"The naval ambulance is an absolute necessity for people living in remote shoals, as communication between the upazila health complex and other unions becomes difficult during the monsoon," said Abid Hasan of Charipara area in the upazila.

"Road communication is also stressful, especially for patients, as the condition of the roads is not good. But we have never seen the vessel being used for its purpose," he added.

Dr Chinmoy, however, said road  communication in the upazila has improved significantly and they no longer need the naval ambulance.

"Patients now arrive at the hospital before the ambulance can reach to pick them up. Several requests for its repair and transfer have been made but no action has been taken yet in this regard," he added.

Asked about its driver, the officer said, "Due to a shortage of manpower, the driver currently works in the hospital."

The driver refused to comment on the issue without permission from the authorities.

"Many patients, who come from neighbouring Rangabali and Taltali upazilas in Barguna to Kalapara Upazila Health Complex for treatment, could use this ambulance. But the authorities never used it and left it to decay," said Mejbah Uddin Mannu, general secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon in Kalapara.

"This is nothing but a sheer wastage of public money," he added.