Thousands suffer as Chandpur health centre in sorry state

CHANDPUR, May 09: Over 25,000 people of seven villages in Gupti Paschim Union of Chandpur's Faridgonj Upazila have been deprived of convenient medical care as the Union Health and Family Welfare Centre lies abandoned with essential furniture and appliances stolen and functioning as a shelter for drug addicts and the homeless.

The centre requires a medical officer, a sub-assistant community medical officer, a pharmacist and an office assistant, according to government guidelines. But these posts have been remaining vacant for years.

Upon a recent visit, the FE found some doors, windows, fans and furniture have been looted from the abandoned centre, while there is no water supply.

Rural people have been immensely suffering due to the abandoned state of the health center and pregnant mothers are worst sufferers as private clinics are expensive, according to UP Chairman Bulbul Ahamad.

He said addicts consume alchohol at night and fans, doors, and electric motors have been stolen from the centre.

After the welfare centre was found in 2005, medical care was provided at the facility for a few years, and the service eventually slowed down before being terminated.

Patients have to travel 10 km from the union to reach the upazila health complex, which is the nearest government hospital offering affordable medical care. Locals, including elderly Bashirullah Miaji, and Asgar Ali said it is a "welfare centre" only in name.

Feroja Begum, Aminullah and Serajul Islam,

all elderly residents of the union have expressed a similar sentiment and said the centre has virtually turned into a place for addicts, thieves and the homeless.

Faridganj Police Station Sub-Inspector Jakir Hossain said police visited the spot.

Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Asaduzzaman Jewel said the centre is directly controlled by the Family Planning Directorate, thus they are not authorised to make any intervention in this regard. He said he is prepared to extend cooperation upon direction from higher authorities.

Residents of the union calls upon MP Md. Abdul Hannan to address the problems of the centre and take quick steps to mitigate their long time suffering.

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