Bogra people suffer as majority of health complexes in bad health

The government health department miserably fails to provide treatment facilities for 32 lakh people of the district as two-thirds of the posts of doctors in the upazila health complexes and union health sub-centres are lying vacant.
Poor patients, who cannot afford high treatment costs at private clinics, are the worst sufferers.
A staggering 187 posts of doctors against 296 posts in the district hospitals, upazila health complexes and union level sub-centres in the district have remained vacant for long, Bogra Civil Surgeon's office sources said.
Besides, a large number of posts of nurses, medical assistants, and other employees, are also vacant in the government-run treatment centres in the district.
Twenty posts of doctors out of 29 are vacant in Adamdighi Upazila Health Complex and union level sub-centres under the upazila.
Of the doctor posts, 18 out of 30 in Kahaloo upazila, 21 out of 31 in Shibganj, 23 out of 31 in Dhunat, 23 out of 33 in Sariakandi, 20 out of 26 in Sonatola, 21 out of 30 in Gabtoli, 17 out of 22 in Dupchancia, 10 out of 15 in Nandigram, five out of 15 in Sherpur, five out of 20 in Shajahanpur and four out of 14 posts in Bogra Sadar upazila are vacant.
In Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College and Hospital in Bogra, 54 posts of doctors out of 305 are vacant, official sources said.
Six posts of doctors out of 71 in Mohammad Ali Hospital are also vacant.
As patients are often deprived of proper treatment due to lack of sufficient doctors and staff and other facilities, a good number of beds at government hospitals and health complexes remain vacant.
There are around 92 private clinics in the district but large majority of the people cannot even think of going there for treatment due to high cost.
Asthma patient Fazila Begum, 35, wife of Hares Uddin of Pabohara village of Kahaloo Sadar union, was admitted to Kahaloo Upazila Health Complex a few days ago.
"The doctors come to the female ward only twice a day. Often we have to buy valuable medicines from outside," she said.
"A large number of patients who go to the district hospitals and health complexes for treatment often return home frustrated as the number of doctors is too inadequate. A good number of people go to private clinics, but the poor patients cannot afford the high treatment cost there," said Faruk Ahmed, 47, another patient at the health complex.
Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Nirmalendu Chowdhury, also the in-charge of the health complex, said, "Shortage of doctors, nurses and employees and lack of ambulance and generator hamper treatment here. Besides, repair of the roof of the building and construction of a boundary wall is urgently needed."
Contacted, Bogra Civil Surgeon Dr Khalilur Rahman said, "I sent demand letter to the higher authorities several times, requesting necessary steps to fill up the vacant posts of doctors and solve other problems related to treatment. The higher authority has recently posted 10 doctors under the 31st BCS. I hope the other vacant posts will be filled up gradually."