After the private Radda MCH-FP Centre in Mirpur-1, Dhaka, was ransacked, health services have resumed in one of the damaged rooms. Cleaning work is also underway in the other rooms. But the lack of water, electricity and toilet facilities is causing considerable hardship for everyone.
During a visit to the centre at around 11 am on Monday, health workers were seen sitting at desks and chairs in one of the damaged rooms. Eight to 10 chairs had been placed in the room for children and mothers who came to receive vaccines. But they were facing difficulties because there was no electricity.
Health workers were seen using thick sheets of paper as hand fans while working. Electricians were installing power connections, including fans and lights. Workers were also removing debris, including broken concrete and pieces of brick, from various parts of the building.
Nasrin Akhter, executive director of Radda MCH-FP Centre, said one of the damaged rooms had been cleaned and health services resumed there. But the environment is still not suitable for providing services normally. There are still no arrangements for water, electricity or toilets. Mothers and children come here to receive services, while most of the health workers are women. The necessary comfort and environment for providing services to them have yet to be restored.
Earlier, vaccination services were started last Saturday under a tarpaulin set up beside the road in front of the centre. At around 10:30 am that day, children were vaccinated under the measles-rubella vaccination programme. As the facility had been damaged, health workers placed tables and chairs outside the centre’s gate to conduct the programme. She said services were provided in the same way under the tarpaulin beside the road on Sunday.
Dr Rezwana Jahan, coordinator (training and research) at Radda MCH-FP Centre, said they could not enter the centre at all over the previous two days. They had to provide services on a limited scale from outside under a tarpaulin. She said conducting the programme outside was also challenging because EPI vaccines must be administered while maintaining the cold chain.
She added that today was somewhat easier than the previous two days, as they were at least able to provide services from inside the centre. The centre is currently providing measles catch-up campaign vaccines and scheduled EPI vaccinations. Doctors are also providing maternal and child health services on a limited scale. But the lack of water, electricity and food is disrupting service delivery.
She further said it was not possible to ensure the level of privacy required to provide healthcare services to pregnant women and new mothers under the current circumstances. She expressed hope that all services could be restored quickly with support from the media and the government.
Dolon, a paramedic at the centre, said they had provided full services at the clinic as recently as last week. But this was no longer possible after the vandalism. Children and their parents now have to stand outside the centre in the sun. Many are leaving because of the difficulties. More than 100 children used to receive vaccinations every day, but the centre can now vaccinate no more than 50.
She added that the registers used to record children’s vaccination information had also been stolen. Other health services cannot be provided because of a lack of necessary equipment and space. The staff are demanding the restoration of full services as before to reduce the suffering of mothers and children.
Other service providers and nurses at the centre said they were also facing various difficulties due to the lack of drinking water, electricity and toilet facilities. Female health workers in particular have to go elsewhere to use the toilet.
The Radda MCH-FP Centre was attacked around midnight last Thursday. According to the centre, 200 to 250 people armed with various tools vandalised the health facility for several hours. During the incident, two security guards were held hostage and medical equipment, medicines, vaccines and other items were looted.
An excavator was used to demolish the centre’s structures, including one permanent and three semi-permanent buildings. A signboard and banners bearing the name “Sammona Dokandar Samabaya Samiti Limited” were later put up at the site.
The organisation filed a case with Shah Ali Police Station over the incident. The case names former member of the BNP’s Dhaka North City unit Mohammad Hanif Mia and 250 other unidentified people as accused.
Police said 10 people have so far been arrested in connection with the incident. But police have not provided clear information on whether anyone allegedly behind the attack has been brought under the law. They said a drive is underway to arrest others involved in the incident.
The Radda MCH-FP Centre began its operations in 1974 to provide maternal and child healthcare services to disadvantaged and low-income people in Mirpur. Since then, the centre has provided various healthcare services, including child vaccination, child health, reproductive health and family planning.