Home ›› 02 Oct 2022 ›› Nation
Natore’s Baraigram Upazila Health Complex started providing healthcare services including surgery, ultrasonography, and x-ray about 44 years after its journey.
By launching these services, the hospital authority has proceeded to implement the Prime Minister’s announcement of bringing medical services to the doorsteps of the people.
According to the authorities, they want to introduce modern pathology services in the health complex within the next 6 months. They also want to implement all facilities of a 50 beds modernised hospital.
The authorities said the announcement about increasing the bed count of the hospital from 31 to 50 was made about 2 years ago but administrative approval had not been given.
But the authorities had to provide more services while being understaffed due to the increase in the number of patients after the announcement. They now expect that the patients will benefit more from the new services provided.
Baraigram Upazila Health Complex was established in 1978 to ensure medical services for residents. But it only provided basic medical care and check-ups in the 44 years of its establishment.
A 31-bed hospital is supposed to have four consultants but so far there are only two- anaesthesia and surgery specialists. Along with that, the surgery specialist Dr Taufiqul is working on an assignment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH).
Baraigram Upazila Health Complex provides healthcare to 400-500 patients every day on average. About 50-60 people are regularly admitted to the hospital against 31 beds. Due to this many patients have to be transferred to Natore Sadar Hospital or RMCH.
Dr Khurshid Alam was appointed at the health complex as the health and family planning officer about 4 months ago. He wanted to provide the residents with better health care services at the hospital and worked towards that goal.
According to Khurshid, after the announcement of expanding the hospital services, a new building was built, but they still lacked pieces of equipment and the number of required staff.
Even though the hospital was allocated an x-ray and ultrasonography machine they were collecting dust due to a lack of operators.
But the health complex had finally started providing these services. Khurshid said since last Thursday they have also operated on three patients successfully.
He added that although there is no x-ray technician at present, the work is being done by the person responsible for x-raying the tuberculosis patient. And the resident doctors are providing ultrasonography services on rotation. Besides, every Monday and Wednesday they operate on patients.
The Resident Medical Officer of the hospital, Dr Dolly Rani said, “Two successful caesarean sections were performed on Thursday. Both mothers and children are healthy.”
Plaban, the husband of the first woman they operated on, said, “We could not imagine receiving these services at the hospital. More facilities should be added to the hospital for the residents’ ease of access.”
In response to a question, Dr Khurshid Alam said, if the administrative approval for the upgrade to the 50-bed hospital is given, they will get more consultants and specialists.
With the approval, manpower and logistic support, supplies and services will be available. “Currently, we can only provide food for 31 people against the 50-60 admitted patients. Administrative approval is necessary for many more services,” he said.
He added that the quality of service will also increase as the hospital gets more doctors, nurses, cleaning and admin staff.
He further said that he has continued communication with the concerned department claiming to get the approval.
“I want to include a modern pathology lab in the provided services within the next 6 months along with many other facilities. Providing more services will not only benefit the residents but also increase the government’s revenue,” Khurshid said.
