Falling plasters in Chandpur Health Complex scare patients, family

Only 18 posts of 40 doctors are employed currently in the hospital

Patients seeking treatment at the Matlab South Upazila Health Complex in Chandpur are grappling not only with illness but also with the constant fear that parts of the hospital ceiling could collapse at any moment.

A visit to the hospital found large cracks in the ceilings of several buildings.

Plaster, cement and concrete fragments have already fallen from ceilings in several locations on the first and second floors.

Some cracks are so severe that patients and their relatives repeatedly look up while walking beneath them.

Many try to avoid the risky sections, but are often forced to use those passageways to reach medical services.

However, the deteriorating building is not the facility's only problem. The hospital has long been struggling with severe shortages of staff and medical equipment.

Although the 50-bed hospital has 40 approved physician posts, only 18 are occupied.

Of its 192 sanctioned officer and staff positions, only 116 are filled.

The hospital is also facing a shortage of nurses. Caesarean (C-section) surgeries have been suspended due to the absence of an anesthesiologist.

It has no ambulance of its own, and lacks essential equipment, including an X-ray machine.

Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Md Golam Raihan said the problem of falling plaster had already been reported to the authorities.

He said the hospital urgently needs building repairs, along with more doctors, nurses, equipment and support staff.

"Despite our limited resources, we are continuing to provide healthcare services," he added.

Shanaullah, a resident of Induria village in neighboring Matlab Uttar Upazila, said: "I stayed at the hospital for three days with my daughter. Every time I went downstairs from the second floor to collect medicine, I had to keep looking up at the ceiling."

"Large chunks of cement and plaster fall from the ceiling from time to time. It's impossible to stay in a hospital under such fear. Even a healthy person would become sick from the anxiety."

Patient Shahnaz Begum from Bardia said, "People come to hospitals to recover, but here we have to live in constant fear that the ceiling may collapse on our heads at any moment."

"The hospital also lacks many essential diagnostic facilities. The building should be repaired, and the necessary equipment should be provided without delay."

Farzana, a patient's relative, said: "I waited outside the doctor's room for an hour, but everyone's attention was on the ceiling. We spent the entire time worrying about when another piece of plaster might fall."

Hospital physician Dr Rajib Kishore Banik said, "Warning notices have been posted in different areas to alert people. We continue to provide medical care despite working under these risky conditions."

Matlab South administrator (UNO) KM Ishmam said that he is aware of the deteriorating condition of the hospital building.

"We have learned about the plaster falling from the hospital ceiling. We will discuss the matter with the relevant authorities to ensure that renovation work begins as soon as possible," he said.