DHAKA, Feb 9, 2020 (BSS)- As many poor char people are still grappling with disease woes, health centers in remote areas are enabling the low-income people to heave a sigh of relief.
Penny-less house wife Jobeda Khatun was at a loss as to what to do when her two-year-old baby Raihan was suffering from breathing problem and fever for long three days. One of her neighbours advised Jobeda to go to a nearby health center for treatment of Raihan.
When Jobeda was thinking how she would make a way for seeing the doctors without a single penny, the well-wisher assured her that she would require no money to get treatment of her baby. After that, she (Jobeda) went to nearby health center– Bakhrerkandi Rehabilitation Center of Shibchar upazila of Madaripur district.
‘Padmasetu Health Center’ is now considered a beacon of hope for poor patients as it has come up with a scheme that promises to bring great relief to the disadvantaged people, especially women and children of char area of the Padma River. The low-income people of the char area are being benefited as they are getting medicines and health services at free of cost.
Sources said the health center remains open all day long daily. A medical team of nine-member, including a doctor, an assistant health worker, nurses and pharmacists, is providing the health services to patients at free of cost. The patients are also getting free medicines.
Abdul Halim living in the area said the people especially women and children are getting health services at their doorsteps.
While visiting the Bakherkandi Health Center, the correspondent found the center neat and clean. The doctor has a separate room while a waiting room is there for patients. There are also have a pharmacy, an emergency ward and an IT room.
Solaiman, an inhabitant of Bakherkandi and a grocery shop owner, said many people of the area are being benefited from the health center. Now the women and children of the area are getting emergency services at their doorsteps.
“It was really unbelievable for us that we get the free health services. Previously, many people of the area used to go to upazila health complex of Madaripur or Dhaka for treatment. That was really hard for us as many people could not go for treatment due to financial crisis. Now the health center comes as a blessing for us,” he added.
Road Transport and Bridges Minister and Awami League General Secretary inaugurated the Padmasetu Health Center on April 16, 2017. Resource Integration Center (RIC) conducted the center to ensure the health services for the affected people by Padma River Bridge. But, almost all people of the area along with the affected people are getting health services from the center.
The center is providing primary health services, including reproductive health services and vaccination, to adolescent girls, mothers and children.
Besides, the center is also providing eye treatment to the locals once in a week by a specialized eye doctor.
Inhabitant of the same area Amena Begum said, “I have been suffering from fever for last three days. Now I have come here for treatment as I will get free medicines and treatment as well.”
Hospital sources said a total of 17,169 people of the area received treatment from the center in the last three years. Of them, 5,789 are women and 6,035 are children.
Assistant Community Health Officer of Padma Setu Health Center Protap Chandra Das said the people are getting the health services everyday from 8 am to 2.30 pm. About 45 to 50 people are receiving health services daily, he added.
Protap hoped that the pathological facilities will also be provided to the people of char areas in near future.
The health centers in the remote char areas have come as perfect solutions to the problems of health conditions of the poor people. The scheme is aimed at transforming the health landscape of remote areas by tackling health problems of low-income people.