Protesters seek medical college amid Gaibandha healthcare woes  

GAIBANDHA, Sept 25: Residents took to the streets on Wednesday demanding the establishment of a full-fledged government medical college in Gaibandha and an end to what they described as mismanagement in the health sector.

“People have no access to advanced healthcare in the district. The hospital that was supposed to be a source of hope for patients is itself now struggling like a patient,” leaders of a citizens’ movement said at a protest rally, highlighting the poor condition of Gaibandha Modern Sadar Hospital.

The protest rally was organised by the Gaibandha district unit of Samajik Sangram Parishad around 11am near the Fire Service office. Farmers, students, political activists, professionals and other local residents took part in the programme, raising slogans for improved healthcare.

The rally was chaired by Bir Muktijoddha Moinul Islam Raja, Convener of the organisation, while its member secretary Kazi Abu Rahen Shafiullah Khokon moderated it.

Politicians Pranab Chowdhury, Ziaul Haque Jony, Mostafizur Rahman Bablu, Mostafa Moniruzzaman, Advocate Nilufar Yasmin Shilpi and Rezaul Karim Jewel, retired army member Sekendar Ali, human rights activist Rafiqul Islam, journalists Neyamul Ahsan Pamel and Ujjal Kumar Chakraborty, Abu Taher Chowdhury, Rezaul Karim Reza and student leader Paramananda Das, among others, expressed solidarity with the movement.

Speakers said Gaibandha is largely an agricultural district inhabited by low-income people, but its highest-level healthcare facility, Gaibandha Sadar Hospital, is now virtually dysfunctional due to alleged irregularities, corruption, shortages of medicines, and inadequate numbers of doctors and nurses.

They said critically ill patients and those requiring even moderately complex treatment are often referred to hospitals in Rangpur or Bogura. Many patients die on the way, while poor families are forced to spend beyond their means to obtain treatment in distant cities, they said.

The speakers strongly demanded the immediate establishment of a government medical college in Gaibandha to ensure access to advanced healthcare for local people.

They also demanded the full operation of the new building of the modern hospital and effective measures to prevent dengue and measles.

They further warned of a movement against the discriminatory “prepaid meters” allegedly being imposed on ordinary electricity consumers.