Khulna, July 11 (V7N) - The residents of Koira Upazila in Khulna are facing severe health challenges due to salinity, with women, children, and the elderly being the most affected. Diarrhea has become a common issue, while women are particularly struggling with severe conditions such as uterine cancer. Many are dying due to inadequate medical treatment.
 
Pregnant women are at high risk, lacking proper medical services and often receiving inadequate care from village doctors. The suspension of cesarean operations at the local hospital has deterred many obstetric patients from seeking hospital care, leading them to rely on substandard clinics or deliver at home, resulting in complications, infections, and even fatalities.
 
Data from the Koira Upazila Family Planning Department and Health Complex reveals a grim scenario: in 2023, out of 2,987 deliveries, only 265 women were admitted to the health complex. This year, up to June, only 58 out of 184 deliveries took place at the health complex. Furthermore, while 825 cesarean deliveries were performed last year, and 384 this year across various institutions, none were done by Dr. Fatema Zohra, the appointed gynecologist for Koira. Notably, the former civil surgeon, Dr. Sujat Ahmed, conducted 56 cesarean operations last year but is now facing charges and has been relieved of duty.
 
Dr. Fatema Zohra, addressing the issue, stated that she is willing to perform surgeries but is hindered by the lack of a general anesthesia machine, making operations risky. She also highlighted that previous complications under spinal anesthesia led to patient deaths.
 
Additionally, Dr. Zohra’s irregular attendance has compounded the crisis. She travels from Khulna to Koira for treatment, and despite investigations and salary stoppages due to her absenteeism, she has shown little concern. Koira Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer, Dr. Rezaul Karim, confirmed that Dr. Zohra often leaves after seeing outpatient department patients, leading to multiple warnings and salary suspensions. Efforts to address her irregularity continue.
 
The hospital’s operation theater remains closed due to the lack of necessary equipment, a critical issue in this remote coastal area. The new civil surgeon of Khulna, Dr. Md. Shafiqul Islam, stated that he has forwarded complaints to the Director General’s office for further action.
 
Professor Dr. Abul Basar Mohammad Khurshid Alam, Director General of the Department of Health, assured that the matter would be reviewed upon notification.
 
On July 10, a three-member investigation committee was formed to examine the medical care situation in Koira, with a report due within seven days.
 
Tariqul Islam, President of the Human Rights Bureau of Koira and a journalist, emphasized the dire situation, noting that residents often travel 120 kilometers to Khulna for even minor ailments. Due to financial and transportation constraints, 90% of the population cannot access necessary healthcare, leading to preventable deaths.
 
Rahima Begum from Maheshwaripur Union, near the Sundarbans, recounted her daughter-in-law’s delivery by a village midwife, which resulted in ongoing health issues.
 
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