Health services at the Sitakunda Upazila Health Complex in Chattogram are struggling for lack of staff. Patients crowd the hospital every day, but many go without care because of shortages of doctors and medicine, the daily Amar Desh reports.
According to the health department, 30 of the 119 sanctioned health and family-planning posts in the upazila are vacant, roughly a quarter of the field workforce. Forty-seven health assistants are working against 55 posts, with eight vacant. Of 64 family-planning assistant posts, 22 are empty and 42 filled, a shortfall of about 34 per cent.
The paper count understates the gap. Many of those on the books are attached to duties elsewhere, so in some areas the working staff is smaller still and the remaining assistants carry extra load, people involved told the paper. Sitakunda has 23 community clinics for primary care in outlying areas; 22 have a community health care provider (CHCP) and one post is empty.
Dr Shibbir Ahmed Prince, the upazila health and family planning officer, said vacancies and staff on attachment are being taken up with senior authorities and regular field services are a priority.
Dr Sheikh Fazle Rabbi, divisional director of health in Chattogram, said two rounds of recruitment for grade 11 to 20 posts have already been completed under the Chattogram civil surgeon. There may be no further recruitment this year and a new round could start next year, he said, adding that a large-scale posting process now under way is expected to fill some of Sitakunda's posts.
The report is by Amar Desh's Sitakunda correspondent, Zahirul Islam.
Source: Amar Desh
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