Health services barely available at Pogla union centre

In 1989, the Pogla union inhabitants -- mostly impoverished -- were overjoyed when the beautiful three-storey structure for "Union Health and Family Welfare Centre" was built in remote village of Aambari.

But their high hopes are diminishing thirty-one years later, when the population of the union, in Netrakona's Kalmakanda upazila, rose to about 45 thousand and the services available at the healthcare facility shrunk down to the lowest level.

The health centre is supposed to have a five-member staff, but the only staff member it has seen over the last couple of years is its office assistant, who is also the night guard.  

Despite having its key positions -- a sub-assistant community medical officer, a pharmacist and a family welfare inspector -- lying vacant, the clinic is still rendering nominal services only three times a week, with the help of a volunteer from a non-government organisation and a visiting medical officer from the health centre in the neighbouring union. 

On Saturdays and Thursdays, a female volunteer from Care GSK in Kalmakanda attends the centre while Mina Akter from Koilati union health centre pays visit on Sundays, said Kalmakanda Upazila Family Planning Officer Bijoy Prakash Biswas.

A child delivery room and many other necessary medical setups exist in the centre, but it is difficult to provide such critical medical services without permanent staff members.

The crisis deepened after its lone medical officer joined Netrakona General Hospital on deputation two years back, he also said.

Frustrated locals said child birth, family planning, vaccination and reproductive and maternal health management were among various medical services that they used to avail at the healthcare centre, but the services are barely available there now due to staff shortage. 

Pogla Union Parishad Chairman Rafiqul Islam said the authorities need to take urgent steps in resolving the situation at the health centre as it is affecting public health in the union where a larger population is poverty-stricken. 

Bijoy Prakash Biswas, the family planning officer in Kalmakanda, said staff shortage is being faced by all six health centres in the upazila where 44 vacant posts are yet to be filled.

Among those, six out of eight sub-assistant community medical officer posts as well as two pharmacist posts remain vacant. Many non-medical staff positions are vacant too, he added.

Contacted, Deputy Director of Directorate General of Family Planning in Netrakona Anisur Rahman said with all the health centres already crippled by severe staff shortage, the coronavirus pandemic is causing further delays to the appointment process for the vacant positions.