The Pakri Union Health and Family Welfare Center of Godagari Upazila of Rajshahi was established with the aim of ensuring health and medical services to the common people at the marginal level. However, due to the shortage of medicines and doctors there, marginalized people are deprived of general medical services.
It has been seen on the ground that about 60-70 people from the marginalized groups come for treatment of various diseases in this union service and family welfare center every day. But even though there are rules to provide them with various health related services and essential medicines, it is not being done. As a result, the general public of the area has to return disappointed without getting service even after going to the sub-health center. Although the health center is open every day, the officials do not work there according to the government routine. They open the office after a certain time and close it before long.
A visit to the Pakri Union Health and Family Welfare Center shows that there is an acute shortage of unusable toilets and furniture. A pregnant woman who came there for treatment said, many pregnant women like us come here for treatment. But there is only one toilet, and it is so dirty, it is not accessible. Sometimes the toilet is very important for urine testing. But it is unusable. No one is there to see.
Several local people, including a pregnant woman, Chobi Rani, spoke about the poor state of treatment there.
A local man named Manik Mia said that the government is spending lakhs of rupees for this health center, but nothing is being done. No doctor, no medicine. Although it is open occasionally, it is closed most of the day. This health center is used by everyone. There is no one to see this. He also said that a few days ago, when my child had fever, I could not come here to take medicine. Later had to buy from the store.
Benu Begum (60) of Pakri Paschim Para village said, I have come here with back pain. But the treatment ended only with paracetamol and histacin. So I'm going home.
Asma of Goal Para said that they give the same medicine again and again to get treatment and say that only these will cure the disease. In this way, hundreds of patients are returning without getting medicine.
Masum Ali, the pharmacist of the health center, said, "On an average, 60-70 patients come here every day for treatment." Medicines are allotted every three months. Maybe some drugs wear off eventually. Then the medicine has to be distributed. That's why many times extra people actually have shortage of some medicines at the end of the month.
Why shop inside the health center? In response to such a question, he said, "I think it may be due to local politics."
When asked about this, Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Ali Mazrui Rahman said that patients will get enough medical care in the amount of medicine allocated. Even then, why they are not getting medicine and treatment, action will be taken with inquiry. And the crack in the building will be reported to the higher authorities.
ZH
