Editorial
Rural community clinics
Much room for improvement
While the prime minister claimed just over two months ago that Bangladesh's community health clinic services have become a role model around the world, the findings of a nine-month survey (June 2012-February 2013) conducted by the Health Network of Bangladesh (HNB), a platform of nine non-government organisations (NGO), beg to differ.
True, the initiative to establish clinics in remote areas in order to provide health services to the hardest to reach, was commendable. The services have contributed to developments in health education, detection of diseases such as EPI, malaria, pneumonia and influenza, and, most notably, to maternal health and family planning, resulting in a laudable drop in maternal mortality.
As the survey has shown, however, there is much room for improvement. One-fourth of the clinics are not fully staffed, and even those that are, while aiming to provide healthcare primarily to women and children, are staffed largely by male employees, thus discouraging the main target group from availing services. One-third of the clinics do not maintain an operational schedule while a majority of them do not advise follow-ups to patients. Many of the clinics have a bare minimum of equipment and supplies.
It is essential that the establishment of community clinics is followed through with close monitoring and proper maintenance. While the basic foundation exists for the provision of health care to millions of people in rural areas, it must be built upon to ensure regular, efficient and quality service.
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