Pregnant women suffer as construction materials, vehicles occupy hospital
Pregnant women coming to Gomnati union health and family welfare center (UHFWC) at Dakkhin Ambari village in Domar upazila for taking antenatal and postnatal services facing insecurity and health hazards as a bridge construction farm has been using its premises to keep heavy vehicles and construction materials for the last few months.
Roads and Highways Department (RHD) has recently given work order to a renowned construction farm to build a 50-meter-long and 10.3-meter-wide concrete bridge over Dewnai river in the village on Domar-Chilahati-Vaulaganj highway near the health centre with a view to connecting Chilahati land port with country's different parts.
Visiting the UHFWC recently, this correspondent found that various types heavy vehicles moving to and fro over its premises creating obstacle for service seekers at the health centre.
Family planning supervisor (FPI) also the UHFWC in-charge Abdur Rahman said, "The situation has created health hazard for the service seekers and I've discussed it in the monthly meeting of our department several times and also asked the constructor's men to remove the materials but to no avail."
Every day 25-30 pregnant housewives used to come to the center daily but now only 4-5 come because of the situation.
Due to the situation, regular sub-assistant community medical officer (SACMO) has taken transfer and one from the adjacent Kektibari UHFWC has been temporarily appointed who attends the centre once in a week.
Hasina Banu (24), a housewife of Uttor Ambari village said it is not feasible for many village women to visit the centre due to the obstacles, many women now prefer visiting neighbouring Ketkibari center.
A number of locals alleged that Gomnati union parishad (UP) chairman who is also the president of the centre's managing committee allowed the contractor to use the premises to be benefitted.
However, the UP chairman Abdul Hamid on contact admitted that he has allowed the contractor to use a small part of the centre's premises temporarily in consultation with relevant officials for the area's greater interest.
Contacted, Zakir Hossain, site in-charge of the construction farm said, "We keep our goods on a rented land belonging to an individual adjacent to the health center and so some materials may have been kept on the UHFWC premises as there is no boundary wall. However, we will remove the materials soon."
"I will look into the matter and take necessary step," said Monjur-ul Alam, executive engineer of RHD in Nilphamari.
Caption: A view of the heavy vehicles and construction materials is seen on Gomnati union health and family welfare center (UHFWC) premises at Dakkhin Ambari village in Domar upazila of Nilphamari.
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