Medicare services have been badly hampered in Sakhipur upazila of Tangail district as 16 community clinics are currently in a rather vulnerable condition.

Sources said there are 37 community clinics in Sakhipur upazila. Since there are no power connections and the buildings are vulnerable, neonatal mothers, pregnant women and other patients are being deprived of healthcare services.

The clinics were established in 1998, but shut down when the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) came to power in 2001. The Awami League (AL) restarted the clinics in 2009 when it was voted to power.

The clinics, which are open from 9am to 3pm, serve all villagers, particularly pregnant women and neonatal mothers. Clinic employees have been properly trained: they have received training to ensure normal deliveries of pregnant women at the clinics. But for want of power connections and separate rooms, pregnant women are being denied important services. Also, many windows, doors and walls of the buildings have been damaged. Costly medicines, laptops and necessary equipment cannot be kept in the rooms, employees of the clinics alleged.

The wall of the building of Berbari Community Clinic, for instance, has developed cracks. Ariful Islam, the CHPC of the clinic, has rented a separate house, from which he is providing services. Some 50 patients come to the clinic everyday, he told this correspondent. Supta Ahmed, the CHPC of Ratanpur Community Clinic, said he is unable to properly use the laptop provided by the government, as there is no power connection. Again, Ashiqur Rahman, the CHPC of Boga Community Clinic, said the power line was just 10 metres from the clinic, but it has not been connected. At least 600 patients receive medical services from his clinic every month, he added. Abu Hanif, the CHPC of Kalomegha, and Ariful Islam of Kakrajan made similar complaints. They also demanded that their jobs be nationalised.

The upazila health and family planning officer of Sakhipur, Dr Rezaul Karim, admitted to these problems of the community clinics. The buildings were built more than 18 years ago, he pointed out, adding that they required renovation. He further said applications for power connections have been submitted.