Medical service eludes Manikganj char people

Around 30 thousand people of Azimnagar, Sutalori and Lechhraganj unions of Harirampur upazila under the district, especially those on the char (landmass emerging from riverbed) areas, are deprived of health and family planning services in absence of any government-run health centres.

One and a half years ago, the authorities built Azimnagar Union Health and Family Welfare Centre and set up required medical equipment and furniture there but the centre is yet to start providing services, locals said during this correspondent's visit to Ibrahimpur village under Azimnagar union.

"Thousands of villagers, especially women, children and elderly people, are facing serious problems due to the situation. My neighbour Kashem's wife died during delivery without treatment a month before," said Abdus Salam of Shikarpur village.

Several people including Md Farhad, an intermediate student of Justice Nurul Islam Degree College and Md Al-Amin, a Class IX student of Azimnagar High School, have urged the government to take immediate steps to start medical services at Azimnagar health centre.

Contacted, Dr Md Amin Uddin, deputy director of Health and Family Welfare Directorate, said all necessary medical equipment and furniture have been set up at Azimnagar Union Health and Family Welfare Centre but services could not be started there due to shortage of manpower.

Doctors and other staff, especially females, do not want to go there crossing the River Padma, he added.  

Dr Md Emran Ali, civil surgeon of Manikganj, said his medical team regularly goes to Azimnagar union parishad building and provides health services to the local people there. 

Locals, however, said the arrangements are too scanty.