Nasirnagar (Brahmanbaria) Correspondent:
In Nasirnagar Upazila, surrounded by haors in Brahmanbaria district, the medical services of the 50-bed health complex of Nasirnagar Upazila have been severely disrupted for a long time due to manpower and medicine shortages, poor quality food, and poor quality of medical services.
Nasir Nagar Upazila of Brahmanbaria district is the only shelter (medical services) for three lakh people. The residents of the upazila have been deprived of medical services for a long time. In addition, there are widespread complaints of serving low-quality food to patients. Equipment is breaking down due to lack of anesthesia. Out of 23 posts, 7 important posts including gynecology, surgery, children, skin and genitals, orthopedics, medicine anesthesia, are vacant. The only government hospital in the upazila is providing health services to about 3 lakh people with just a few doctors.
According to the Upazila Health Complex, there are a total of 23 doctor posts in Nasir Nagar Upazila Health Complex. In the meantime, 07 posts are vacant. In addition, there is only 1 consultant against 10 posts. There are only 19 nurses against 35 posts. 5 nurses have gone on assignment again. 3 have gone on maternity leave. Minor operations including cesarean are not being started due to the lack of doctors for anesthesia.
There are 3 doctors against 15 posts of assistant doctors. The X-ray machine cannot be started due to the lack of 1 radiologist. Despite the fact that the Upazila Health Complex has equipment for treatment, the X-ray machine is not being started due to the lack of medical technologist. As a result, the poor and helpless common people of Nasir Nagar Upazila and neighboring upazilas surrounded by haors are being deprived of medical services.
On the spot, it was seen that there is a long line of women, men, and children in front of the doctor’s room as usual, coming from different areas for treatment. Patients who come to get medical services have to stand in front of the doctor’s room for hours. In this regard, RMO Dr. Md. Shafiqul Islam said, at least 300 to 400 patients of different ages receive services from the outpatient department of this hospital every day.
Among them, the number of female and child patients is more than male patients. However, due to the absence of several doctors, it is not possible to provide services to so many patients. As many important posts are vacant, the common people are deprived of medical services. A 65-year-old woman, Hajera Khatun, who came to the hospital for medical services, said, “I have become old. My back hurts. I can’t stand up, I can’t walk, it’s very difficult to pray. I am a poor person. I came to the doctor for orthopedics. There is no doctor for physical therapy. What else can I do? I go home.”
Amir Hossain, who came to get medical services for skin diseases, said, “I came to see a skin doctor, but I can’t find a doctor, so I go home. I came to such a big hospital for treatment, I took medicine, but there is no doctor. If the government gives such a big hospital, why don’t they have a doctor?”
On the spot, it was seen that due to the shortage of food grains, patients from different areas are being given medical services by piling up on the hospital floor. Apart from this, there is a daily shortage of medicines. In a conversation, Razia Begum, a pain patient from Kulikunda village of Sadar Union, said that there is no medicine in the hospital, the doctor does not give any medicine, the shop does not give medicine.
At present, the number of patients is increasing due to the sudden appearance of measles symptoms. Every day, 20-25 people come to the hospital with measles symptoms and samples have to be collected and sent to Dhaka. Regarding measles, Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Aditi Roy told the reporter that 4 children with measles symptoms are admitted. The number may increase.
We have started a measles corner for children with measles symptoms. We are trying to keep those who come with symptoms admitted in that corner. Some of them are coming with measles-like symptoms in the outpatient department. Some are leaving after receiving primary treatment. Doctors are also counseling, we are trying to collect samples from there too.
Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Aditi Roy told the reporter about the overall issues of the hospital, I have just joined, I have been trying to improve the quality of service in the hospital since I took charge. But many posts of doctors are vacant, there is a shortage of medicines, even though the operation theater is operational, Caesarean sections cannot be performed due to lack of anesthesia. I have informed the higher authorities.
Hopefully, the doctor crisis will be resolved in a few days. The current government will solve this issue quickly.
Besides, I have sought the attention of the higher authorities regarding the manpower shortage, for doctors. Doctor recruitment is coming up, I hope the authorities will take the matter into consideration. It will be possible to overcome the doctor crisis soon.