SOHRAB HOSSAIN, Patuakhali

Seven fully equipped Mother and Child Welfare Centres across four upazilas in Patuakhali district have remained non-operational for years due to an acute shortage of manpower.

As a result, expectant mothers, new mothers, and children are being deprived of essential healthcare services.

According to sources at the Health Engineering Department, the 10-bed facilities were built at a total cost of Tk 32.14 crore, one in Patuakhali Sadar, three in Bauphal, two in Galachipa, and one in Mirzaganj, to ensure easy access to healthcare for women and children. Although construction work was completed between 2018 and 2022 and the facilities were handed over to the Family Planning Department, services have yet to begin due to a lack of the required staff.

Each centre has been equipped with 10 beds, Caesarean section facilities, and other necessary medical equipment, all of which remain idle and locked inside, collecting dust and raising concerns over possible damage.

Each facility is supposed to have two medical officers, four family planning inspectors, one office assistant, and two ward assistants. However, none of these posts has been filled at any of the centres so far.

Md Rafiqul Islam, executive engineer of HED in Patuakhali, said the centres were built on land donated by locals.

“Each centre has a three-storey building with necessary equipment installed, along with separate residential facilities for doctors and staff. However, the centres could not be made operational so far due to a lack of manpower,” he said.

During a recent visit, this correspondent found the centres at Bhayla in Patuakhali Sadar and Sabupura in Bauphal lying unused.

Shawon Molla, a resident of Bhayla village, said the centre was built in 2018 on land donated by his family in the name of his grandfather. “If the centre were operational, women and children in the village could have easier access to treatment. Now, they have to travel nearly 10 kilometres to Patuakhali town, which is often difficult for critical patients due to poor transport facilities,” he said.

Md Ibrahim, imam of a local mosque, said, “It is unacceptable that a well-built facility is not serving its purpose while people are being deprived of healthcare.”

Runa Akter, a family planning inspector at a nearby facility, said that if the centre were made functional through the appointment of necessary staff, it would benefit local people and reduce pressure on upazila and district-level hospitals.

Md Shahidul Islam, deputy director of the Family Planning Department in Patuakhali, acknowledged the issue.

“We have regularly informed the higher authorities of the matter through monthly reports, but without the recruitment of staff, it is not possible to start services at the centres,” he said.