No healthcare services for months, but who cares?
People of five remote villages are deprived of free healthcare services as the community clinic at Char Bhabanipur village in Hemayetpur union under Pabna Sadar upazila has remained dysfunctional since it caved in a year ago. PHOTO: STAR
Free healthcare services for the people of five villages in char area along the river Padma in Pabna Sadar upazila have remained suspended since collapse of the community clinic at Char Bhabanipur in June last year.
The clinic was established in 1999 at Char Bhabanipur village under Hemayetpur union to ensure primary medical care for over 5 thousand people of Kablipara, Char Bhabanipur, Sheikhpara, Bhogiratpur, and Hasempara villages.
Equipped with a medical officer and two health assistants, the clinic had been providing free healthcare facilities for the people of the five villages since its opening in 1999. But the clinic building collapsed in the middle of June last year, depriving the villagers of free primary treatment.
“People of the five villages in remote char area suffer a lot as they have to travel around 20 kilometres to reach Pabna General Hospital to receive primary treatment,” Nurul Islam, a primary schoolteacher of Char Bhabanipur village, told this correspondent during his recent visit the village.
Residents of the village said the building collapsed as soil at the base of walls was washed away during downpour in June last year. “We have to go to the district headquarters, 20-km from our village, to receive medical treatment. It kills our time and counts extra money,” they added.
Although the people of five villages have been demanding construction of a new community clinic in the char area, the authorities concerned has not yet responded positively, the villagers alleged.
Contacted, Pabna Civil Surgeon Dr Tahsina Begum said official process to rebuild a clinic in the area has already started. District health department has issued an official letter to the Health Engineering Department to allocate a fund for this purpose.
“After allocation of the fund, we will start construction of the new community clinic.” The civil surgeon said.
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