Decaying community clinics

Isn't it astonishing, when it is found patients of a community clinic are receiving treatment in the corridor of a primary school? Not only this, a portion of a union parishad (UP) office is now being used as a clinic.

All these are happening due to dilapidated condition of the buildings of the clinics, said a doctor.

At least 25 community clinics out of 44 in Barguna's Amtali and Taltali upazilas have been in a very bad state for long due to lack of renovation, said Dr MA Matin, Amtali upazila health and family planning officer.

Community health service providers (CHSPs) are giving treatment to patients amid risk of accidents as plasters of walls and ceilings of the clinics continue falling off, he said, adding that over 100 patients visit each clinic every day. 

A local NGO repaired three community clinics to ensure health service to people of rural areas, said Matin.

They are Gotipara Community Clinic, Sakhina Community Clinic and Kazirkhali Community Clinic, said Md Shahabuddin Panna, executive director of Nazrul Smritee Sangsad, an NGO.

“During monsoon, we have to use umbrella when we are on-duty as rainwater seeps through the dilapidated roof of the hospital,” said Sujon Payda, CHSP of a community clinic in Joyanalbhanga area of Taltali. 

In 1999, the then Awami League-led government set up 44 community clinics in the upazilas to provide health service to the rural people but BNP-led alliance government stopped activities of the clinics when it assumed power in 2001, said Amtali upazila health office sources.

AL reopened the clinics in 2009 when they came to power again, but the buildings became unfit for use due to lack of renovation, it said.

During a recent visit to the community clinic in Lawapara area of Taltali, this correspondent found its doors and windows missing and plaster falling from the walls and ceiling.

“Finding no other alternative, we are now seeing patients in the corridor of Lawapara Government Primary School,” said Afroja Akhter, CHSP of the clinic.  

Baithakata Community Clinic in Taltali was locked for three years due to bad condition of the building. As a result, they are now providing health service at the local UP office, about one kilometre away, said Al Imran, CHSP of the clinic.

Civil Surgeon Dr Jasim Uddin said most community clinics in the two upazilas have been in a bad shape and they have written to the higher authorities for fund for their renovation.