Healthcare services continue under a cracked roof
Collected Photo
The old building of the Bhedarganj Upazila Health Complex in Shariatpur has become hazardous. Large cracks have appeared on the ceiling at various points of the building. Plaster and brick chips are regularly falling off. This has spread panic among doctors, nurses, officials, employees, patients, and their attendants.
Some local individuals concerned fear that a major accident could occur at any time if the building is not repaired or replaced soon.
According to health complex sources, the hospital was established in 1972 as a 31-bed facility. Later, on 17 April 2012, a new three-story building was constructed at a cost of around Tk 6 crore, upgrading the hospital to 50 beds. However, although it is 50 beds on paper, the hospital is still being run with the manpower of a 31-bed facility.
The upazila, formed by Bhedarganj and Sakhipur thanas, has a population of approximately 303,535. Every day, an average of 800 to 900 patients come to the hospital for treatment. But healthcare services are being affected due to shortages of manpower and medical equipment.
The hospital has 45 sanctioned posts for doctors, but only 23 are currently working. Out of 173 sanctioned posts for officials and employees, only 113 are filled. There is also a shortage of nurses. There is no anesthesiologist, which is why cesarean operations have been suspended for a long time. Ambulance services are also unavailable due to the lack of a driver. Additionally, the hospital lacks an X-ray machine and many other essential medical equipment.
On Sunday, a visit to the site revealed that, as every day, hundreds of patients had come to the hospital for treatment. Due to a bed shortage, many patients are being treated on the floor. Large cracks were visible at various points on the first and second floors of the old building. In many places, plaster and brick chips were falling off. Patients and attendants were trying to avoid the risky areas, but many were forced to use them out of necessity.
On 22 July at noon, a large portion of the ceiling of the Family Planning Officer's office at the hospital collapsed. A nurse on duty narrowly escaped with her life. Cracks have also appeared on the ceilings of the emergency department, doctors' rest rooms, and various wards, further heightening the panic.
Parul Begum, from Beparikanandi village in Sakhipur Union, has been admitted to the hospital with her five-year-old daughter for four days. She said, "While going downstairs from the second floor to get medicine for my daughter, I keep looking up at the ceiling. I feel scared passing through the cracked areas. Sometimes large chunks of cement and brick chips fall off. It is very worrying to come to the hospital for treatment and then have to stay in such insecurity."
Shipon Mia, from Bhatita village in Rambhadrapur Union, said, "People come to the hospital to get well. But here, we have to live in fear of the ceiling collapsing. The building needs urgent repair. At the same time, necessary diagnostic equipment must also be ensured."
Ashraful Haque Sojib Majhi, an attendant of a patient, said, "Even while waiting outside the doctor's room, I felt anxious. There is always the fear of plaster falling from the ceiling. To ensure safe healthcare for the people of this region, a new building needs to be constructed quickly."
Dr. Jahirul Islam, a physician at the hospital, said, "Cracks have appeared on the ceiling at various spots on the first and second floors. Plaster, brick chips, and cement are regularly falling off. Ansar members have been assigned to alert patients. Although healthcare services continue, the building's risk is a concern for both doctors and patients."
Dr. Abu Naim Md. Ifthekharul Islam, Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer of Vhedarganj, said, "The matter of plaster falling from the building has been reported to higher authorities. At the same time, the hospital is suffering from shortages of manpower and medical equipment. Cesarean operations are suspended due to the lack of nurses and an anesthesiologist. Ambulance services also cannot be maintained due to the absence of a driver. We are making the utmost effort to provide healthcare services with the limited staff we have."
