5,000 islanders suffer for lack of health care
Around 5,000 people of Charatra island in Naria upazila of the district are not getting proper healthcare facilities since the Padma river devoured the lone community clinic in the area over two years ago.
The residents of the remote island now have to travel at least 10 kilometres for treatment, local people said.
Charatra, an island in the middle of the Padma river under Charatra union is about 15 km northwest of Naria upazila headquarters.
Some 1,500 families are now living there. In the last three years, many houses in the island were damaged at least twice by river erosion, said Masbauddin Munshi, chairman of Charatra union parishad.
Sufferings of those who fall ill know no bound as no government or non-government organisation has come up with any healthcare service for them after the collapse of the healthcare centre in 2009, said the UP chairman.
It is really a tough task to take patients to any clinic outside the island for treatment, he said.
He said a number of people died without treatment in their houses after the collapse of the clinic. These hapless villagers do not have financial ability as well as they are not in a position to travel a long way for treatment, he added.
During a recent visit to the remote island this correspondent visited a tuberculosis patient, Abul Kashem.
“I could not go to Naria upazila health complex for medicines due to lack of money although I need to bring them today,” Kashem said.
This correspondent also witnessed how the relatives of a patient, who became unconscious due to high fever, were facing difficulties to take him to Naria upazila health complex.
We have decided to set up a community clinic in the island again. Before doing it, we will start a satellite health clinic there, said Dr. Golam Faruk, Naria upazila health and family planning officer.
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