The naval ambulance gifted by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Galachipa Upazila Health Complex for transporting emergency and pregnant mothers to Galachipa Char area of Patuakhali is being wasted due to negligence. For a long year and a half, this naval ambulance could not transport any emergency patient in the char area. People in the char areas do not know they have naval ambulances for emergency services. However, there are allegations that the officials of the Upazila Health Complex sometimes use the naval ambulance for unofficial trips.
According to sources, a state-of-the-art air-conditioned naval vessel was given to Galachipa Upazila Health Complex on January 14, 2020 as a gift by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the transportation of pregnant mothers and health services in the char areas of Galachipa Upazila at the request of local MP SM Shahzad. Although more than a year and a half has passed since the delivery of the naval ambulance, it has not yet been able to transport patients to any of the chars.
Abu Naim of Charkajal Union said that people in the area do not know that there is a naval ambulance at Galachipa Upazila Health Complex for emergency services. If the naval ambulance had been running, Charkajal and Charbiswas would have been of great benefit to the people. The people of the island could get medical services at the Galachipa Upazila Health Complex at low cost. Tofazzal Hossain Babul, chairman of the Charbiswas Union, said that he does not know if there is a naval ambulance now to transport the emergency and pregnant mothers to the chars. However, he heard that the people of the char region are not taking the help of naval ambulance due to the high cost of oil.
Galachipa Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Monirul Islam said the people of the char area were informed after receiving the naval ambulance. He added that the ambulance's engine dynamo was damaged and it was later in the dock. Denying the unofficial trip, he said that the naval ambulance was used twice in the chars after crossing the river for health services.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ashish Kumar said Charkajal and Charbiswas are two isolated islands. The naval ambulance was launched before he joined Galachipa. When the weather is rough, a naval ambulance is required.
“I will take necessary steps to talk to the health department officials about reforming it”, he added.