8 family planning centers in Abhaynagar on the verge of closure

Due to shortage of manpower and equipment, eight family planning centers in eight unions of Abhaynagar Upazila are about to be closed. The centers no longer provide healthcare services. As a result, the common people of the villages are being deprived of healthcare. In particular, pregnant women and children in rural areas are suffering. They have to travel long distances to the Upazila Health Complex or private medical centers to get healthcare. It has been alleged that due to the poor condition of government family planning centers and community clinics, unauthorized medical centers and diagnostic centers have been established in...

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Due to shortage of manpower and equipment, eight family planning centers in eight unions of Abhaynagar Upazila are about to be closed. The centers no longer provide healthcare services. As a result, the common people of the villages are being deprived of healthcare. In particular, pregnant women and children in rural areas are suffering. They have to travel long distances to the Upazila Health Complex or private medical centers to get healthcare.
It has been alleged that due to the poor condition of government family planning centers and community clinics, unauthorized medical centers and diagnostic centers have been established in remote rural areas.
Local sources said that medicines and other medical assistance have been unavailable at family planning centers in Abhaynagar for almost a year. In addition, the centers are almost completely understaffed. Pregnant mothers are also facing difficulties in getting primary care, health advice, and treatment for common diseases like diarrhea and fever. The shortage of doctors and staff has complicated the situation.
According to sources in the Abhaynagar Upazila Family Planning Office, there are currently no doctors in the upazila family planning centers. Six of the eight FWB posts in the upazila’s eight family planning centers are vacant. It is not possible to provide medical services to eight centers in eight unions with only two FWBs. The upazila’s healthcare system has collapsed due to the lack of doctors, medicines and logistical support.
Locals claim that more than a thousand people, including hundreds of pregnant women, were receiving medical services from the eight family planning centers in the upazila every day. Due to the lack of medical services for a long time, the centers have become ghostly. In some places, they have become hangouts for drug addicts and scoundrels.
On Saturday, a visit to the Health and Family Welfare Center in Ektarpur village of the upazila showed that the main gate of the building was open, but the gate was locked. The main building and residential quarters of the health center, established in 1986, are in a dilapidated condition. The water motor and the fan of the main building have been stolen. Although attempts have been made to maintain the shine by painting, cracks have appeared in most parts of the building.
Local resident Matiar Rahman said that the health center is very important for the people of the area. Since the center is closed, the local poor people have to run to the Upazila Health Complex to some extent.
Abdus Samad Sheikh said, “Earlier, there were a male and a female doctor and other people here. Medicines were also given from here. We are facing a lot of problems due to the closure of the clinic. He demanded the authorities to take steps to reopen the clinic.”
Aklima Begum of Shuvrara village said, “As the family planning center is closed, we have to travel 13 to 14 miles to the hospital. It is very difficult to take pregnant women, the elderly and children. So many times we are forced to go to the village doctors.”
Eklas Uddin of Siddipasha village said, “The upazila hospital is about 22 to 23 miles from our area. It becomes difficult for pregnant mothers to reach the hospital by crossing the river. The center (family planning center) needs to be opened.”
Abhaynagar Upazila Family Planning Officer Iqbal Hossain said, “There is no logistical support, the supply of medicines has stopped and there is no manpower. In this situation, healthcare is not being provided at family planning centers. We have informed the higher authorities many times. We hope that a solution will be found soon.”
Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Alimur Rajib said, “The Health Ministry has already started working on family planning. This crisis will end soon.”