The New Nation - Internet Edition

59 posts of physicians lying vacant in Jhalakati health centres

Our Correspondent, Jhalakati

With 59 of the 90 posts of doctors lying vacant in different health centers in Jhalakati district.

Only 31 doctors are struggling to cope with healthcare service for about 8 lakh people in four upazilas in the district.

On an average, one doctor is available for every 26,000 people in the district.

Jhalakati district civil surgeon and Sadar Hospital sources said that Jhalakati district has one 100-bed modern Sadar Hospital in district headquarter, 3 upazila health complexes in Nalchhity, Rajapur and Kathalia upazila towns, one 10-bed hospital in Kirtipasha union of Sadar upazila, 5 sub-health complexes and 46 community clinics in different parts of the district.

Dr. Guru Das Sikdar, district civil surgeon, Dr. Nowsher Ali, resident medical officer in charge of Sadar Hospital acknowledging the facts said that 125 out of 552 posts of other staffs in the health services of the district also lying vacant.

RMO of Sadar Hospital said that this hospital was upgraded from 50-bed to 100 bed hospital in 2003, but still running with the previous manpower.

Thirteen out of 23 posts of consultant physicians and 12 out of 16 posts of sweepers lying vacant in this hospital and some times even pathologists doing extra duty of physicians in emergency section.

Kirtipasha sub health complex running without any electric and water supply lines and sweeper.

Nalchhity UHC was upgraded from 31 beds to 50 beds but still running with previous manpower and 8 out of15 posts of doctors in this hospital are vacant, said Dr. Nazrul Islam, upazila health and family planning officer of Nalchhity.

Beside crisis of beds, sufficient water and electricity supply, out of service of X-ray machine, bad condition of the ambulance intensified problems, he added.

Dr.Arobindo Kumar Dey, UHFPO of Kathalia upazila health complex said that the 31-bed health complex situated at Amua union , about 8 kilometers far from upazila town and patients from adjacent Bamna and Betagi upazilas of Barguna district also rushed to that UHC.

But the hospital is running with only 4 out of 9 doctors and all types of operations referred to other hospitals as post of anesthesiologist lying vacant here. Every day many patients were returning home without getting treatment due to lack of doctors, the UHFPO said.

"We have to serve both at outdoor and indoor although there are only four doctors against nine posts. As about 150 to 200 patients came for outdoor treatment daily we find it difficult to cope with the situation," said the upazila health officer.

"Sometimes visitors of patients become annoyed with us as we fail to give proper attention to the patients," he added.

Almost same condition prevailing at Rajapur upazila health complex running with only 4 out of 9 doctors, broken beds, out of order X-ray machine, said Dr. Md. Ismail Faruk.

However work for up gradation of this hospital from 31-bed to 50 bed, going on, he informed.

When contacted, Jhalakati Civil Surgeon told, "We sent several letters to the higher authorities concerned demanding filling the vacant posts but to no effect." "We are trying our best to provide health service to the people despite shortage of doctors," he said.

Rustam Ali Chashi, vice president Jhalakati patient welfare association, Anwar Hossain Anu, president of Jhalakati Sandhani Donor Club, said that shortages of physicians and staffs not only hampering proper modern health services in public sector, but also creating unhygienic and polluted environment in those institutions.

Prevailing of these conditions in public sector, not only depriving poor mass people from getting proper modern health services at low cost, but also helping mushroom growths of private clinics running without full pledged sufficient modern health service facilities and collecting highest cost from helpless patients, they added.

Call to make immunisation campaign a success

Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

A press conference on the 17th National Immunisation Day (NID) was held at the conference room of Civil Surgeon (CS) here on November 26 with a call to make the campaign a success.

Civil Surgeon (CS) Dr. M Shamsul Haque said that a total of 4,25,489 busies aged from 0 to 59 months would be fed two doses of oral polio vaccine each, 3,50, 232 babies aged between 12 to 59 months administered high powered vitamin A capsule each in the first round of the 17th NID to be observed on November 29 and as many as 2,95,009 babies aged between 24 to 59 months would be given a deworming tablet each in the 2nd Sound of NID on January 3.

The press conference also revealed that a total of 2138 camps will be set up in the rural and urban areas of the district of which 2115 are temporary and 23 mobile camps.

As many as 737 health workers, 9953 volunteers, 252 first class supervisors and 62 second class supervisors have been engaged to conduct the campaign in the district.

The press conference was also attended, among others, by medical officer of CS officer Dr. M. Rafiqul Islam and surveillance medical officer of WHO Dr Sharmin Dowla.

Talking to the journalists, CS Dr M Shamsul Haque said 4-day house-to-house searching programme would be conducted after NID to bring the babies who remain left out under this programme.

Victory Day programme in Rangpur

BSS, Rangpur

Rangpur District Administration has chalked out an elaborate programme to celebrate the 38th Victory Day here in a befitting manner and with due solemnity on December 16 next.

The programme was finalised today at a meeting participated by freedom fighters, professionals, heads of educational institutions, elite, government officials, businessmen, journalists and representatives from different socio-cultural organisations, NGOs, women and voluntary organisations.

Deputy Commissioner of Rangpur M Abdul Ahad chaired the meeting in his conference room and he will officially inaugurate the day's programme by placing wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar at zero hours on the day.

The programme includes heralding of 21-gun salute, placing of wreaths at the monument and Shaheed Minars of the martyred freedom fighters, hoisting of national flag atop all public and private buildings, decoration of roads of the town with national flags and coloured miniature posters and banners and illuminating roads and roadsides.

Marchpasts and physical displays by Police, Ansar, VDP, BNCC, Scouts, children and students of educational institutions at Rangpur Stadium, screening of documentary films on Liberation War, charity football match and sports competitions and cultural functions will be organised in the city.

Veteran freedom fighters and relatives of the martyred freedom fighters will be accorded warm reception and discussion meetings will be organised in the city marking the significance of the Victory Day, Independence and developments.

Besides, special prayers will be offered at mosques, temples, churches, pagodas and other places of worship seeking peace, progress and welfare of the nation and improved diet will be served to the inmates of hospitals, jails, shishu paribars, vagabond centres and orphanages in the district.

Similar programmes have also been chalked out in the meeting to celebrate the Victory Day at the upazila towns in the district.

Ansar-VDP meet held in Mymensingh

Staff Reporter, Mymensingh

Ansar VDP members Gathering was held at Dhubaura on 19th November Ansar Commander, union leader, women leader including 200 Ansar VDP members were present on the occasion. District Ansar Adjutant Abul Hasan Khan was present as chief guest.

It was presided over by UNO, Dhubaura Md Abdul Awal UHFPO Dr Mrinal Kamli Pandit, Agriculture Officer Fazlur Rahman, Upazila Education officer Abdur Rashid were present.

Welcome address delivered by Md Saidul Islam. Ansar VDP members were transed to develop there profession and make them self reliant 13,300 Ansar VDP members are working at Dhubaura upazila.

They are playing significant role to Check women and child trafficking and maintaining law and order situation and assisted during Eid and Puja.

Ansar VDP members were also involved in club, Samity, afforestation programme, fish culture, livestook programme.

Drug peddler held with ganja in Chittagong

BSS, Chittagong

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested a drug peddler along with three kilograms ganja from Cinema Palace area under Kotwali thana in the city on Thursday night.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of the elite force arrested Solaiman, 42, son of Karam Ali of Kapterpar under Kashba upazila in Brahmanbaria district along with the ganja while he was roaming suspiciously at Cinema Place area at about 10 pm last night, a press release said.

One electrocuted in Lalmonirhat

BSS, Lalmonirhat

One person was electrocuted at Nizpara village under Sadar upazila of the district on Wednesday, police said.

The dead was identified as Zakir Hossain Dulal, 40, of Nizpara village, touch in contact with a live electric wire while he was cutting a bamboo at his bamboo cluster in the village. Zakir was spot dead.

A UD case was field with sadar police station in this connection.

News briefs

Human chain foiled

Khulna, Nov 27 : Police foiled a human chain of grass roots level activists of Awami League in front of local press club in the town Thursday morning. The AL activists started hunger strike and formed a human chain at about 11 am demanding fresh nominations of candidates as per their choice for the upcoming general elections canceling all the six nominations in the district given earlier. But police obstructed the activists and foiled their attempt to form the human chain by charging baton, report UNB.

1,670 mts rice allocated for Pirojpur

Pirojpur, Nov 27: Relief and Rehabilitation Department has allocated 1,670 mts rice for creating job opportunities for the unemployed people of the district under the Rural Infrastructure Maintenance Programme during the current fiscal year. Of the total, 258 mts rice has been allocated for Bhandaria, 148 mts for Kaukhali, 349 mts for Mathbaria, 279 mts for Nazirpur, 288 mts for Nesarabad, 169 mts for Zianagar and 179 mts for Sadar upazila. The programme includes construction of bridges, earth filling on the premises of various educational institutions and repairing roads. Work on the programme has already been started and is likely to be completed by January next year, report UNB.

2 held with magnet in Madaripur

Madaripur, Nov 27 : Rapid Action Battalion members arrested two people along with a piece of valuable magnet at Shashikar village in Kalkini upazila on Wednesday afternoon. The arrested were identified as Enamul Huq alias Enam, 50 of Char Manikda village of Gopalganj district and Nurul Islam, 37, of Kalkini upazila. Acting on a tip-off, RAB-8 conducted a drive and arrested Enam and Nurul when they were trying to sell the magnet. The arrested were handed over to the local thana, report UNB.

Smuggled Chinese fertiliser seized in Jamalpur

Jamalpur, Nov 27 : Police seized a truck loaded with 340 sacks of Chinese DAP fertilizer at Pingna in Sarishabari upazila on Wednesday. Acting on a tip-off, police seized the Sarishabari bound truck loaded with the fertilizer, smuggled into the country from China. Sensing the presence of police the driver and helper of the truck managed to flee. The fertilizer laden truck was brought to Tarakandi police investigation centre, report UNB.

Wife killed for dowry in Joypurhat

Joypurhat, Nov 27: A housewife, who was beaten up by her husband for dowry at Purba Khadail village in Badalgachhi upazila of Naogaon district, died at Akkelpur Health Complex here on early Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Sathi Begum, 22, daughter of Nasiruddin of Chairmanpara village in Akkelpur upazila. Local people said, Sipon, who married Sathi taking Tk 25,000 dowry three years back, used to torture her for more money, report UNB.

Sexagenarian man killed in Jamalpur

Jamalpur, Nov 27 :A sexagenarian man was crushed under the wheels of a training car of police at vocational school crossing in the district town here Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Tofazzal Hossain, 70. Witnesses said the training car of police hit Tofazzal at 12 noon when he was crossing the road, leaving him seriously injured. He died on way to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. A case was filed, report UNB.