Hospital doors remain closed for a decade

A Mother and Child Welfare Centre constructed at a cost of millions of taka in Pangsha, Rajbari, has failed to open its doors even after 10 years. Despite having a three-story building, 10 beds, an operation theater, an ultrasonography room, and residential quarters, it lacks the necessary manpower. Consequently, while intended to provide 24-hour medical support, the facility operates just one day a week. Public assets are deteriorating, and mothers and children from remote areas of Pangsha and neighboring Khoksa in Kushtia remain deprived of emergency healthcare.

Located in Kalimohar Union under Pangsha Upazila, the center was inaugurated on November 20, 2017, to ensure round-the-clock health services for local mothers and children. However, no necessary staff recruitment has occurred in nearly a decade.

The facility features doctors' offices, an ultrasonography room, an operation theater, and six residential quarters for staff. According to plans, it was designed to provide normal and complex deliveries, cesarean operations, maternal and neonatal care, MR, post-abortion treatment, screening for cervical and breast cancers, and family planning services.

Staffing Status at the Facility

Hospital Manpower Strength: 2 Medical Officers, 4 Family Welfare Visitors, 1 Pharmacist, 1 Medical Technologist, 1 Office Assistant, 1 Security Guard, 1 Ward Boy, and 1 Ayah.

It provides services just one day a week by a Medical Assistant while a Family Welfare Visitor performs additional duties.

Zakia Sultana, the Family Welfare Visitor on additional duty, noted that although the center should offer 24-hour service, she works there only once a week. She believes local residents would attend regularly if permanent staff were hired.

Similarly, Medical Assistant Md. Abuzar explained that his primary posting is at the Machhpara Union Sub-Health Centre, from where he visits the Kalimohar facility once a week. He stated that the lack of permanent staff discourages people from seeking treatment there.

Sohrab Hossain, a local resident, highlighted the geographic challenges: "Pangsha Upazila Health Complex is about 20 kilometers away, and Khoksa Upazila Health Complex in Kushtia is at a similar distance. If a pregnant woman goes into labor at night, she has to be taken all that way." He questioned the purpose of constructing the facility if doctors are not available.

Abu Nasar Mohammad Kadar Uddin, Deputy Director of the District Family Planning Department, acknowledged the center's strategic location, noting it could serve people from both Pangsha and Khoksa upazilas. However, the lack of personnel recruitment has rendered the opportunity unutilized. He added that higher authorities have been requested to expedite recruitment, though no definitive timeline has been established.

Meanwhile, valuable medical equipment continues to deteriorate from prolonged disuse. Local residents argue that keeping a multi-million taka health facility inactive for years wastes public funds while depriving citizens of essential medical care.

Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hussain said that the government is actively working to ensure healthcare services for citizens. Currently abroad, he pledged to look into the matter upon his return.