On Saturday (May 28), Selina of Panchrukhi village in Nikli upazila was coming out of the Upazila Health Complex with her two-month-old baby with a smile on her face. Upon being asked, she replied that upazila health complex has changed a lot and for the sincere effort from the hospital authorities, healthcare scenario in the whole upazila has improved.
Visiting the Nikli Upazila Health Complex office, it was learned that last April 1 (Friday) Selina brought her infant son to the health complex. Doctors understand that Selina's son is an immature child with low birth weight. The doctors did their best to save the baby. Later on April 6, the child was sent to Shaheed Syed Nazrul Islam Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment. Now the baby is completely healthy and weighs 2400 grams. Talking to some of the patients and their relatives who were receiving medical treatment at Nikli Upazila Health Complex on the spot, it is known that the hospital authorities are treating the patients with utmost compassion. There is no fatigue in their works. Patients who come to the government hospital do not want anything fancy as the healthcare system is very cost-efficient there. But most of the patients after admitting there could not hide their surprice to get high quality healthcare facilities from a public healthcare system.
Locals said that not a few years ago, the environment of the Upazila health complex were sub-standerd due to lack of maintainance. Dr Sajib Ghosh, the current Nikli Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer, has become the center of trust for the future of a backward health complex. He joined on February 22 this year. Immediately after joining the hospital was illuminated with focus lights and other electric lights, modernization of the dilapidated emergency department, arrangement of blood and urine tests through the pathology department, ultrasonogram and ECG with the help of state-of-the-art machines.
Expanded building with state-of-the-art beds and central oxygen line male interiors, modernization of old and dilapidated conference rooms with projectors and sound systems, round-the-clock power supply through IPS in emergency departments and offices Establishment of Patient Welfare Association in the hospital for supply of medicines, formation of KMC (Kangaroo Mother Care) Corner for treatment of immature and underweight newborns, Breastfeeding Corner for breastfeeding infants and modernization of delivery room. “NCD corner from where 3,000 patients suffering from diabetes and hypertension are getting free medicine for diabetes and hypertension.
A number of health workers of the Upazila Health Complex said that Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Sajib Ghosh, gives them the right direction and advice through regular meetings on how to more easily ensure health care for the common man at every union, ward and village level.
Dr Sajib Ghosh said Nikli is a neglected, backward marginal town. Besides, the people of the area had to go to Kishoreganj or Bhagalpur Hospital to get proper health care in the true sense of the word, as well as endure unbearable misery. The hospital did not have any examination system, the building was dilapidated. My colleagues and I are working day and night to ensure the health care of this marginalized population.
