<i>CVASU strike hampers veterinary treatment </i>
Students demand resignation of vice chancellor
Sahedul Alam Quadery Teaching Veterinary Hospital. The photo was taken on Monday.Photo: Zobaer Hossain Sikder
Treatment service at veterinary hospital under the country's lone Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Science University (CVASU) is being hampered due to students' agitation demanding resignation of the vice chancellor for the last two months. CVASU has remained closed since December 14 last year as the ruling party students' wing Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and General Students' Forum enforced an indefinite strike demanding removal of Vice Chancellor (VC) Dr Nitish Chandra Debnath bringing allegation of corruption against him. The two-month deadlock in the university also hampered treatment service at Sahedul Alam Quadery Teaching Veterinary Hospital (SAQTVH) badly due to unavailability of doctors. Most of the doctors and teachers of the university are reluctant to do roaster duty at the hospital making excuses for suspension of academic activities hampering public service. A good number of farm and pet owners in the port city and different upazilas in the district are facing problems in treatment of their animals. The hospital having eight different branches including Large Animal, Small Animal, Poultry, Obs and Gynaecology, Surgery, Central Pathology, Consultancy and Mobile Clinic is an important part of the university where students get practical knowledge. Apart from its academic activities, the hospital has also been providing treatment to thousands of poultry and dairy farms, pet animals of the district in exchange for nominal registration fees. The hospital usually remains open from 8.00am to 8.00pm daily while doctors do their duties in three shifts, said the sources, adding that three doctors serve in each shift. Doctors also provide service on call after 8.00pm, they added. The situation worsened at the beginning of this month as the CVASU authorities at a meeting on February 4 decided to keep the hospital open from 10:00am to 2:00pm everyday to provide the public service instead of round the clock service. The meeting also decided that no teachers would do their roaster duty at the hospital until the academic activities resume. Sources said the decision has virtually stopped the treatment service since only two doctors, the hospital director and a surgeon, do their duties. Director Prof Dr AKM Saifuddin said they are doing their best but it is impossible for them to serve large number of patients everyday. He said many farm and pet owners are returning after failing to get service from the hospital. Several farm and pet owners staged a demonstration at the hospital on February 8 after failing to get treatment to their animals due to non-availability of doctors. Chittagong Farm Owners' Association at a rally on Saturday expressed resentment over CVASU decision of keeping hospital partially open. They also demanded 24 hours service. Chittagong Dairy Farm Association leaders at a meeting the same day expressed concern over the situation and urged the University authorities to keep the hospital fully open in order to help the farm owners. Association leader Omar Faruk said farm owners are suffering a lot due to lack of treatment service at the hospital. Meanwhile, Dr Nitish at a meeting with three teachers on Sunday decided to keep the hospital open for public service until 3:00opm everyday. Dean of Veterinary Medicine Faculty Prof MA Matin Prodhan, Director Prof Saifuddin and Head of Medicine and Surgery Department Dr Md Raihan Faruk were present at the meeting. Sources said failing to get treatment at the hospital and pet owners are now taking their animals to nearby private veterinary clinic Chittagong Veterinary Lab where, they alleged, some CVASU teachers are working as specialist consultants. Additional District Livestock Officer (ADLO) is also a consultant at the lab. When contacted, Dr Nitish said the hospital is mainly a teaching hospital where public service is usually available till afternoon. The teachers do their duties there in shifts as part of their academic job, he said, adding that there is no need for the roaster duty since the university has remained closed. He said the teachers, however, will surely provide public service at the hospital on any urgent call.
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