Local people alleged that a doctor comes to the centre twice a week but stays for only a while. Rest of the week, an inspector of the health centre carries out the tasks meant for a qualified doctor, they said.

“Four out of six posts remained vacant for long. It is impossible to stay in the staff quarter of the heath centre due to its bad condition,” said Sultana Begum, Inspector of the health centre.

Visiting the centre, the UNB correspondent learned that it had not undergone any renovation exercise  at all in its nearly 5-decade existence dating from the East Pakistan period, leading to the poor shape it finds itself today.

The lone road leading to the entrance of the centre is a narrow one. People have to go to the centre on foot and it is very tough to enter the centre by transport.

The correspondent found 6-7 patients at the centre seeking medical services.  Apart from them,  there were two more patients at the inspector’s room where she was treating patients.

Afia Begum, who came to the centre to receive treatment, said,  “It is very tough to bring pregnant patients to the health center due to the poor road condition.”

Sultana Begum said that everyday 30 to 40 patients visit the health centre to avail medicare facilities.

However, pregnant women and elderly people face extreme sufferings on their way to the centre, she said.

Amir Ali, Chairman of Daulatpur Union Parishad, said, “I will place the matter in the monthly coordination meeting of Upazila Parishad for expansion of the road.”

Dr Nazrul Islam, acting Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer, said due to manpower crisis, Shirin Akter, Sub-Assistant Community Medical Officer of Deukols union of the upazila, is discharging additional responsibilities at the Daulatpur health centre.

 “We have informed the higher authorities concerned about the manpower crisis,” he added.