Staff shortage, neglect cripple sub-health centres at Sherpur

SHERPUR, BOGURA, July 31: Several sub-health centres in Bogura's Sherpur Upazila have effectively fallen into disuse due to severe staff shortages and dilapidated infrastructure, depriving rural residents of basic healthcare services.

While the Bhabanipur Union Sub-health Centre is functioning with adequate infrastructure and personnel, the other centres have deteriorated due to years of neglect. At Garidah, one building remains usable, but the rest are in a dilapidated condition. 

A similar situation prevails at Bishalpur, where abandoned buildings, broken infrastructure and a lack of electricity have left the centre virtually unusable.

According to the Upazila Health Complex, doctors are being forced to perform additional duties because of staff shortages across union-level facilities, disrupting regular healthcare services. Medicine supplies are also inadequate. Although 22 types of medicines are supposed to be available, patients often receive only three or four basic drugs, forcing many low- and middle-income residents to travel to the upazila headquarters even for minor illnesses.

Health services at the grassroots are currently delivered through three separate systems -- Health Assistants under the Directorate General of Health Services, Community Health Care Providers (CHCPs) under the Community Clinic Health Assistance Trust, and Family Welfare Assistants under the Directorate General of Family Planning. Officials said the overlapping structure often creates coordination problems, and the government is considering integrating the three systems.

Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Md Amirul Islam said the department had requested additional manpower from higher authorities to make the unused centres operational.

"Once approval and staffing are provided, the centres can be reopened to ensure healthcare services for local people," he said.

Family Planning Department data show widespread manpower shortages across union health and family welfare centres. Several facilities are operating with only half the required number of field workers, while many also lack family welfare visitors.

Local residents alleged that many centres remain closed for most of the week and that staff attendance is irregular.

During a recent visit to the Garidah Sub-health Centre, this correspondent found the main gate locked. Although one building had been renovated under a special allocation, neighbouring structures had fallen into disrepair.

Masudur Rahman, a resident of the Pechul area in Bishalpur Union, said the centre looked abandoned, with waterlogged surroundings, damaged buildings and no electricity.

Upazila Family Planning Officer Abdul Alim said there were no dedicated family planning centres in Kusumbi, Garidah and Bishalpur unions. He said recruitment was under way and that renovation and reconstruction of several facilities had been proposed to improve healthcare access in remote areas.