BAUPHAL, PATUAKHALI, May 9: Healthcare services in the remote Chandradwip Union of Bauphal Upazila have nearly collapsed due to an acute shortage of medical staff and medicines at the area's only community clinic, leaving around 30,000 people without proper treatment facilities.
Residents of the union, made up of 15 chars and 11 villages, say many seriously ill patients die before reaching hospital because of the long and dangerous river journey needed to get treatment.
According to locals, Chandradwip is about 10 kilometres away from the Bauphal Upazila headquarters and can only be reached by engine-run boats. The river-surrounded area has poor road communication and limited public facilities, making access to healthcare extremely difficult.
Residents claimed that every year at least 15 to 20 people die either due to lack of treatment or on the way to hospital. During the monsoon season and bad weather, when boat movement stops, the number of deaths rises further.
Despite the large population, the union has only one community clinic located in Char Wadel area. No other health centre has been established in the area.
Under government rules, every union should have at least one union health and family welfare centre and one community clinic for every 6,000 people. Clinics are also supposed to provide maternal healthcare, vaccination services, family planning, primary treatment and safe delivery facilities.
However, locals said the reality in Chandradwip is completely different.
The clinic currently runs with only one community healthcare provider and one health assistant, while all other posts remain vacant. Moreover, government medicine supplies to the clinic have reportedly remained suspended for the last four months.
Nurjahan Begum, 75, of Char Wadel village, said she had seen many pregnant women and accident victims die while being taken to hospital.
"Recently, an injured man named Ujjwal Karmakar died in the middle of the river while being taken to hospital after a clash over land," she said.
According to local findings, at least 30 to 35 people, including 27 newborn babies, have died during or after childbirth in the last five years.
In 2023, Lima Akter Jhumur of Char Miajan village died during childbirth. In January 2024, Malek Majhi and an electrician named Hasnain died on the way to hospital after suffering electric shock injuries.
Siddiqur Rahman, community healthcare provider at the Char Wadel clinic, said the area urgently needs at least two more community clinics, a union health centre, a 10-bed hospital and a water ambulance.
He said applications had been submitted several times to the authorities, but no effective action had yet been taken.
Health assistant Solaiman said he alone is working in the union where at least six health assistants are supposed to serve.
"There should be six field workers for 24 vaccination centres, but there is not a single one now," he said.
Acting chairman of Chandradwip union parishad Abul Bashar Mridha said demands for more clinics and a water ambulance had repeatedly been raised in different meetings, but no progress was visible.
Bauphal Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Abdur Rouf described the situation as "very unfortunate" and said the matter had been informed to higher authorities.
Patuakhali Civil Surgeon Dr Mohammad Khaledur Rahman Mia said steps would be taken to introduce floating hospital services in remote areas like Chandradwip for at least part of the year.
