The health department is stalled in the movement to collect demands

Most of the actions taken by the Directorate to keep the health sector functioning are organized by mid-level officials. Such an officer has not been coming to the department for several days. Although he did not come three days after the fall of the government, he and other officials started coming after the interim government started working.

On Tuesday, the official asked not to be named for fear of harassment and said that he has not been going to the office since August 14 due to security concerns. Trying to do some work sitting at home. He is more afraid after the harassment of the top officials of the department in front of the health advisor on Monday.

“From the 15th, they have given a stay programme. Since that day, I can't go to the office anymore, many people have been stopped. There was no problem if only the doctors were protesting, but if any of the subordinates were to protest, they would be ashamed. I am working in government, I am ready for posting, but it is difficult to accept assault and insult. What has been done in front of the health advisor is worse for us.”

Official work has almost stopped since the fall of the government on August 5 in the mass movement of students and people, said a second class official of the health department. The last few days across the Directorate have been in turmoil due to demands and attempts to dominate.

Requesting not to disclose his name in this hostile situation, he said that many files are stuck due to officials not coming to the office.

“Sirs are not coming since the 5th. In fact, he is leaving after a while. Sir, if you can't come, who will I sign the file with? You can't go to sir's house with files. For the past few days, there has been no administrative activity.”

In the changed situation, officials without party affiliation are not coming, similarly, after the change of power, the presence of pro-Awami League doctors and officials in various government and autonomous hospitals of the country, including the Health Department, has also decreased. Many are absent due to security reasons, no one is allowed to come to their workplace.

After the formation of the new interim government, various programs to realize various demands and attempts to establish the dominance of doctors and employees who have deprived themselves of their demands have made the situation more complicated and unstable. Many of those coming to office also attend these programs during office hours.

Due to these reasons, the regular activities of the health department are being disrupted, which is also affecting the medical activities.

The president of the health rights movement, Professor Dr. Rashid-e-Mahbub said, these are long-standing problems of the health sector. To come out of this, we have to come out of the practice of placing party people in top positions.

“Government appoints those who do party politics, be it appropriate or inappropriate. Because of this, the new government actually created an instability. Those who feel deprived want to be accommodated there. If the issue is not resolved, it will continue to persist. Patients suffer in the middle.”

Health advisor Noor Jahan called Begum's mobile phone to talk about the stagnation of the health department, but she did not pick up.

On Tuesday too, there was a protest at the Health Directorate demanding the removal of pro-Awami doctors and staff. Many officials including the new Acting Director General of the Health Department could not enter due to obstruction.

On the other hand, thousands of health workers protested in Dhaka's Shahbagh. Protests were also held in Chittagong Medical College Hospital demanding the resignation of the principal.

Since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in the midst of strong mass protests, all such incidents are happening in various hospitals of the country including the capital.

Almost stagnant health department

Ever since the Awami League government was ousted on August 5, unrest has started in the entire health sector. Most of the pro-Awami League doctors of the Directorate are not coming to the office.

After the interim government took charge, when the situation became somewhat normal, some officials, including the former director general of the department, started working.

BCS Health Cadre Association held a sit-in program in front of the Health Department in Mohakhali on three-point demand.

Two days later, from August 13, Director General Professor Dr. The doctors started a sit-in strike with two-point demands including the resignation of ABM Khurshid Alam. From that day, the previous director general of the health department stopped coming to the office.

During that program, on August 15, various employees of the medical sector, including nurses, started a sit-in program demanding the resignation of pro-Awami officials. Since that day, many officials are not able to come to the health department.

Amidst these events, the contractual appointment of Director General Khurshid Alam was canceled on August 17. The director of non-communicable disease control branch of the Department of Health was given new responsibility. The government appointed Mohammad Robed Amin as Acting Director General.

However, Robed Amin is not able to come to his office after receiving the responsibility of Director General.

On Tuesday, it was seen at the Directorate of Health, that besides Robed Amin, the appointment of Additional Director General Ahmedul Kabir is being canceled under the banner of deprived doctors and employees. The main gate of the Health Department building has been kept locked. The director general's room has also been locked.

After going inside the building, it was seen that most of the officials are not in the office. Among the absent officers are various levels of officers including Director, Program Manager, Deputy Program Manager.

Doctors and staff from different hospitals were also present in the program in front of the Department of Health on Tuesday. Some have also come from hospitals outside Dhaka. If not on vacation, they should be working in the office at that time.

National Cancer Institute and Hospital Medical Technologist. Mamunur Rashid alleged that they were subjected to severe torture and discrimination during the previous government. He was also transferred outside Dhaka.

“Diagnosis is essential to the treatment we do. But the Awami League government, we who are experts in various examinations, have been transferred to different places outside Dhaka. Due to lack of trained people, the test could not be done properly.”

When asked who is doing his work during office hours, Mamunur Rashid said, “Since we have been discriminated against for so long. This is why this protest has to come. We are doing our work according to the roster. I am also doing patient services and doing agitation.”

Acting Director General Robed Amin said on Tuesday, “How can I go to office, my room is locked. I can't go to the office, but I am doing some work at home. I will talk to the advisor tomorrow. You have to do as he directs. There is no scope to go beyond this as a government official.”

There is also a program of doctors in Dhaka on Wednesday. Doctors and employees will gather in front of the health department tomorrow too. Besides, the doctors will march to BMDC on this day to demand the registration of the practice of four-year diploma or BSc degree holders.

14 thousand community health providers in Dhaka

Around 14,000 Community Health Care Providers (CHCPs) across the country have taken a stand in Shahbagh, Dhaka since Monday, demanding job monetization.

One CHCP is working in 14 thousand community clinics of the country. They provide basic health care to local people. As they all moved to Dhaka together, the activities of the community clinic are closed.

It was seen from Shah Bagh on Tuesday that hundreds of thousands of CHCPs were stationed on the road in front of the museum as it exits from Dhaka University. Traffic has stopped on that road.

Bhajan Mohant, a CHCP from Sunderganj upazila of Gaibandha, said that they have come to the community clinic with 'work strike' signs.

“We have been informing the upazila that we are on strike. We provide basic healthcare to people. We are coming off treatment now. But we had no choice. Our salary is not increasing for last 13 years, salary is not getting for last three months due to lack of fund. That is why we want our jobs to be taken up in the revenue sector.”

Another CHCP named Zahid Uddin from Sariakandi in Bogra said, “We serve more than a thousand patients every month in our clinic. But in the last 13 years, the salary has not increased even a single rupee, if the salary is not increased, how can you say?”

Meanwhile, the martyred Dr. Dhaka Medical College demanded the promotion and posting of the discriminated doctors, nurses and officials-employees on Tuesday. The DAB Dhaka Medical College branch was supposed to hold a sit-in and human chain at the meeting square.

A memorandum has been given to the principal of Dhaka Medical College demanding class boycott of 12 teachers and their transfer.

The memorandum issued under the banner of General Students alleged that the teachers opposed the anti-discrimination student movement.

On the other hand, due to resignation of top 6 officials including VC, Pro-VC, Proctor Registrar, deadlock has been created in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. However, medical procedures have been normalized there.

A doctor of BSMMU said, “The VC is the official head of the university. Since no new VC has been appointed, policy decisions cannot be taken. However, treatment has started.”

Source: bdnews24.com

Bangladesh /OF