Health complex ransacked as child dies without treatment
The office of the resident medical officer at Sadullapur Upazila Health Complex in Gaibandha ransacked by locals and relatives of a child patient on Sunday. Photo: STAR
Agitated relatives and locals went on rampage at Sadullapur upazila health complex after a child patient died in the emergency ward without treatment for absence of any physician Sunday afternoon. The mob ransacked Resident Medical Officer's office and damaged doors and windowpanes of the complex. Police said, one and a half years old Apsia Akhter fell in a pond at her village at Hamindpur under Sadullapur upazila. Locals rescued her in an unconscious state and rushed to the health complex for treatment. But after a wait for about two hours no physician was available in the complex and Apsia died without any treatment. The incident sparked violent protest by locals who went on rampage at the health complex. An employee of the health complex seeking anonymity told this correspondent that virtually the health complex has no physician for the last four days. Out of two physicians, Dr Shakawat Hossain is on leave while Dr Abdus Salam was not present at the upazila headquarters. In another incident yesterday noon, one Ariful of Madhapara rushed to health complex with major finger injuries but no physician was available. At this locals again tried to ransack the complex but police foiled the attempt, said Hasan Inam, Sadullapur OC. Locals alleged that the health complex remains without physician most of the time depriving the people of minimum treatment. Earlier, people of the area urged the health directorate and concerned ministry for ensuring physicians. They also held procession and formed human chain but to no effect. The health directorate several times sent physicians including consultant but soon after joining they went on leave or got transferred to other places, said Khademul Islam Khudi, upazila chairman, Sadullapur. “Being frustrated, a few days ago I put the complex under lock and key as a note of protest but all in vain,” he said.
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