The lone trauma centre in Habiganj yet to start operation

SYLHET, Mar 20: The lone trauma centre, established in Habiganj on the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway couldn't yet start function even four years into its inception. Required furniture had also been supplied to the government establishment, but none could say when it would be ready for use.

In 2010, the government established six trauma centres on six highways under the Physical Development Project with a target to providing immediate treatment for the victims of road accidents.

Accordingly a three-storey building at a cost of Tk 30.18 million inside the Bahubal upazila Health Complex area on the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway was constructed.

Although the construction works were completed in 2014, the establishment is yet to be handed over to the Health Department by the Public Works Department (PWD).

The road accident victims on the highway still have to be rushed to the nearby upazila hospitals, to Dhaka hospitals or to the Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital for immediate treatment.

Furniture and medical equipment were supplied to the establishment after completion of the building construction had long been lying unused mainly for not supplying medical officers, sources informed.

Habiganj PWD executive engineer Saad Mohammad Andalib said, "We would soon make it over to the Habiganj Civil Surgeon."

An official in the health department said, "We are yet to get it from the PWD, which had constructed the centre. Besides it is not yet decided when to open the Trauma Centre formally", he added.

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