Health is wealth. Good health plays a leading role in the development of life and country. Ensuring health care is one of the challenges of this government. Community Clinic is at the top of all the implementation of the promise of the Hon’ble Prime Minister. To bring healthcare to the doorsteps of rural people, one community clinic has been set up for every 6,000 people across the country.
Community Health Care Providers (CHCPs) are health workers working in community clinics known as hospitals for the poor, established around 14,000 across the country. It has brought drastic changes in the health system of the country through the provision of primary health care and health education to the people. As a result of the hard work of the health workers, the community clinic has now become a role model in the world. Government of Bangladesh has awarded various honors internationally for this community clinic.
In 1996, the then government decided to build a community clinic for six thousand rural people. It was approved by ECNEC meeting on 28th June 1998. Later, when the government changed, the project was stopped in 2001. In 2009, the present government relaunched the Community Clinic Scheme. Community clinics have been developed with the help of land donation and active participation of local residents and technical assistance from the government. Bangladesh’s community clinic project is now an example to the world in healthcare at home. Common people are getting free first aid and 32 types of medicines at community clinics. The health information of the village people is being saved using information technology in the community clinics and if necessary, the government has made arrangements to take treatment through video conference with the doctors of the capital.
A community clinic was established in 2000. The slogan for the establishment of community clinic was that the people will give the land, the government will implement it. 1 community clinic has been established to serve every 6 thousand people. One of the functions of the community clinic is to provide medical care to pregnant mothers. There are 14,000 community clinics across the country. This community clinic has been established to provide quality health care to the poor and marginalized communities. Community Health Care Providers (CHCPs) are the main service providers in community clinics. The government trains them and sends them to community clinics. Community clinics offer more than 11 types of services.
The services are:
1. All treatment and medicines for primary problems should be provided free of charge
2. Regular check up and treatment and counseling of expectant mothers
3. Normal and safe delivery with modern methods
4. Providing family-planning services
5. Providing basic emergency services
6. Awareness about disease prevention
7. Advise on overcoming prejudices
8. Immunization of children against infectious diseases
9. Providing health awareness services to adolescents
10. Providing health care services for the elderly
11. Providing nutritional services.
Apart from medical services, community clinics provide about 27 types of medicines. There are also family planning materials.
Community Health Care Provider (CHCP):
CHCP appointed for each CC. Those serving in community clinics have educational qualifications of HSC or equivalent and are designated Community Health Care Providers with 3 months of training. ‘Community Clinic Health Assistance Trust Act – 2018’ has been passed by the Mahan Jatiya Sangsad to increase and sustain public involvement in community clinic activities. The benefits of permanency of employees, increase in salary allowance, gratuity, retirement allowance have been kept through this act. The aim and objective of this trust is to provide integrated health services to the rural population. Obtaining necessary social support for the purpose of integrated health care. Accepting resources or donations from individuals or organizations and ensuring their fair use.
But the sad thing is that this trust remains until it is formed. This trust is still running without any financial fund. Actually, when it will be implemented and the public will enjoy its benefits is still uncertain. Also, responsive measures should be taken and activities should be speeded up.