The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our correspondent, Chanpur

The government has given a double-engine water way ambulance to Chandpur district authorities to carry serious patients to Capital Dhaka and elsewhere through waterways nine months ago, but it has not been launched yet as driver for the vessel has not been appointed and monthly fuel need has not been sanctioned.

Directorate of Health Services of the ministry of Health and Population Planning has placed the waterway ambulance to Chandpur Civil Surgeon on April 6, 2008 for carrying serious patients to hospitals and clinics in the capital or elsewhere for better treatment, but no driver for the vessel has not yet been appointed and no sanction of monthly fuel cost was made yet for which this modern waterway ambulance is still lying on the open on the premises of the office of the civil surgeon.

The Health Directorate and the Chandpur Civi surgeon office have exchanged some letters to this effect but to no effect.

An ambulance takes three to four hours to carry passengers through highway from Chandpur to Dhaka and it was seen many serious patients die on the way before arrival in hospitals in the capital.

But the modern water route ambulance is able to reach a serious patient to Dhaka within 40 to 45 minutes.

For enjoying the modern and hi-speed facility, the authorities can charge the cost from relatives of the patients, but not doing so.