Golam Mostofa, Tarash: The residents of Tarash Upazila of Sirajganj were deprived of ambulance service for 36 years.
The dying patients especially had to spend extra money and take rented microbuses to different hospitals in the city. Meanwhile, the people are quite happy to get the new ambulance. Tarash Upazila Citizens’ Movement convener Abdur Razzak Raju said that just as medicine is essential to save lives, ambulances are also very necessary. Even after a few decades, the Upazila Health Complex has ensured ambulance service.According to sources from Tarash Upazila Health Complex, Mathbaria Upazila Health Complex got two ambulances two years ago. One was in a brand new condition. Dr. Erfan Ahmed, Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer of Tarash Upazila Health Complex, felt the special need for ambulances after joining and contacted the concerned higher authorities. Due to the lack of new allocation from the government, the ambulance received by Mathbaria Upazila Health Complex two years ago was allocated to Tarash Upazila Health Complex by the Upazila Health Care (VHS) of the Health Directorate. Last Tuesday, Shahadat Hossain, storekeeper of Tarash Upazila Health Complex, and Moniruzzaman Bablu, office assistant, went to Mathbaria Upazila Health Complex to bring the ambulance. The ambulance was brought to Tarash on Sunday.It is known that an ambulance was given to Tarash Upazila Health Complex by the government in 1986. Its number is Sirajganj-B-3. When the vehicle broke down two years later, due to lack of funds and the indifference of the authorities, the vehicle has been completely damaged, rusting and lying in the dust and sand in the jungle on one side of the hospital courtyard. Several valuable parts have already been lost.
The new ambulance met with an accident five days after its handover in 2016. But due to lack of registration, BRTA has not approved the repair till now.On the other hand, Md. Shamim Hossain, son of Chhattar Pramanik of Asanbari village in Tarash municipality, said, “Three months ago, I broke my leg in a road accident. Since there is no ambulance in the health complex, I have already taken a microbus to Bogra SJMEC Hospital three times. I have to pay extra money to take a rented microbus. This is like a blow to death.In this regard, Dr. Erfan Ahmed, Health and Family Planning Officer of Tarash Upazila Health Complex, said, “It has been about two and a half months since I joined Tarash.
There was no shortage of efforts for an ambulance. Finally, a high-quality 2800 cc ambulance was allocated.
