JALDHAKA, NILPHAMARI, July 9: Jaldhaka Upazila Health Complex in Jaldhaka Upazila of the district has been plagued with plethora of problems including manpower crisis.
Public health care services in the upazila are hampered seriously.
About five lakh people of the upazila are dependent on this 50-bed health complex.
In 1968, the hospital was established with 31 beds. Later on, it was promoted to 50-bed one.
After promoting the hospital to 50-bed one from 31-bed hospital, granted manpower for the additional beds was not recruited.
At present, patients are suffering seriously as they are not getting expected treatment services at the hospital.
Visits on Tuesday (July 2) and Wednesday (July 3) found hundreds of patients came from different unions for receiving treatment in the Outdoor and Emergency Department of the hospital. Long queues of patients were seen in these departments.
Limited doctors and other staffs were seen hiccupping to provide treatment to higher numbers of patients.
Due to bed or space shortage patients were seen treated on floor.
While talking with this correspondent of The Daily Observer, patients of Male and Female wards complained, "We are not getting proper treatment due to doctors crisis. Doctor came once in the morning for one time only."
Staff nurses said, "We are trying to provide treatment to patients regularly."
Outdoor patients Golam Azam of Gabrol Village, Shahid of Balapara Village, Azizul Islam and Mahsena Khatun of Dawabari Nekvokta Village, and Rahima Begum of Balagram Village at Koimari Union said, due to standing in queue for long time, patients conditions are deteriorating.
On-duty doctors of the Outdoor and the Emergency Department said, now they are facing high pressure of patients; patients are treated at the Outdoor from 8am to 2pm; daily about 90 patients are treated; despite that many patients remain untreated.
But in the Emergency Department, patients are treated for 24 hours.
At present, 119 staffs including doctors are working in the hospital against granted 199 ones.
Of the granted 33 first class doctors posts, only 11 ones are working. Of the granted 34 second class nurses, 33 ones are working.
Of the granted 104 third class employees, 58 ones are working; of the granted 28 4th class employees, 15 ones are working.
Of the granted 43 CHCPs (Community Health Care Providers), 42 ones are working.
Of the granted five cleaners, only one is working.
In the absence of surgery and anaesthesia consultants, the Operation Theatre of the hospital has been lying closed for a long time.
Caesarean operation service is also closed due to vacant posts of gynae and surgical specialist.
Besides, modern X-ray machine and ultrasonogram machine have been disorder.
Dental and eye treatments are also hampered due to lack of necessary equipment.
Two new and old ambulances are disorder.
Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Abu Hasan Md Rezwanul Kabir confirmed the plagued condition of the hospital.
"I have informed the hospital status of manpower and others to the authorities concerned," he said.
