A shortage of manpower, medicines, oxygen and family planning supplies, along with suspended ambulance services and unpaid staff salaries, has left the Mother and Child Welfare Centre in Chuadanga struggling to provide services for nearly two years.
Established in 1959 on one-and-a-half bighas of land beside the Town Football Ground in Chuadanga municipality, the centre has long provided free healthcare services to pregnant women, newborns, children and families, earning a reputation for quality care.
The facility has 20 beds for normal deliveries and caesarean sections. However, 26 types of medicines, contraceptive supplies and oxygen support have remained unavailable for almost two years. Patients now have to buy medicines required for normal deliveries and C-sections from outside.
The centre’s old building and staff quarters have also become unusable due to poor conditions.
Against eight sanctioned posts, only four staff members are currently working at the centre. A medical officer, family welfare visitor, peon and nurse are serving there, while the posts of medical attendant, nursing attendant, ambulance driver and cleaner have remained vacant for a long time.
Kanika Khatun from Garabaria village under Chuadanga Sadar Upazila, who came to receive treatment, said people still visit the centre because of the quality of service despite the shortages.
“If medicines and doctors were available, ordinary people would not have to suffer. Especially pregnant women and newborn babies could receive treatment here at a lower cost,” she said.
Medical Officer Dr Shamsunnahar Shampa said the centre continued to provide services despite various challenges.
“The quality of service is good, but several problems remain. If these issues are resolved through government initiatives, pregnant women and children in the district will receive proper treatment and medicines,” she said.
Khulna Divisional Director of Family Planning Md Mozammel Haque said the doctors and nurses had continued healthcare services despite the difficulties.
“All the problems of the Mother and Child Welfare Centre will be resolved within a short time,” he said.
From January to June this year, nearly 4,000 people received treatment and services from the centre, which is less than half of the number served during previous periods.
