The walls of the Dhumghat Hasarchak community clinic in Ishwaripur union of Shyamnagar, Satkhira, are cracked, the plaster is falling and the doors and windows are broken. A red polythene sheet is strung under the roof to keep rain off the patients' seats, Banglanews24 found on a visit.
Staff said the building went up in 1996 and has had no major repair since. Locals say about 8,000 to 10,000 people in four villages depend on it, especially women, children and the elderly. The only road to the clinic, made of brick, is full of potholes and turns to mud in the monsoon.
Rozina Khatun, 36, who came for treatment, said the state of the building frightens her and that rain comes inside. Sumitra Mondal said going to a distant hospital costs more time and money, so the village relies on this clinic.
Dipankar Kumar Mondal, the clinic's community health care provider, called the building old and risky. Asked about medicine, he said clinics used to receive 27 kinds of medicine and now get 22, five having been dropped.
Dr Ziaur Rahman, the Shyamnagar upazila health and family planning officer, said he had seen the poor state of the building himself and had told his superiors. Proposals have been sent for repairs and new buildings for this and several other community clinics.
Reported by Sheikh Tanzir Ahmed, district correspondent, Banglanews24.
Source: Banglanews24
Comments
(0)