Abu Sayed
The salaries and allowances of 50 community health care providers (CHCPs/health workers) in Sreepur upazila of Gazipur have been stopped for eight months. There is no guarantee when they will get them. They are living in inhuman conditions with their families in despair due to not receiving their salaries and allowances. Meanwhile, Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Shafiqul Islam said that salaries and allowances have been stopped due to the complications of job transfer from the development sector to the revenue sector. It is learned that 50 people are working as CHCPs in 53 community clinics in 8 unions and one municipality of the upazila. They provide treatment to the helpless poor, pregnant and maternity, newborn and child healthcare, family planning, EPI, necessary healthcare to adolescents and newlyweds. But the Ministry of Health has stopped their salaries and allowances from July 2024.
CHCP Md. Rukunuzzaman of the upazila’s Bairagirchala Community Clinic said, “Salaries and allowances have been stopped for seven months. We have to borrow money to cover the education expenses of our family and children. The problem is with both departments. Then why is the government making it difficult to pay our salaries and allowances?” Zahirul Islam, president of the Sreepur Upazila branch of the Community Healthcare Provider (CHCP) Association, said, “The CHCPs of 53 community clinics in the upazila are in the same situation. Despite regular contact with the concerned department, we are not getting any solution. Days are passing by as if they are happening. Therefore, we request the government to pay our salaries quickly considering our hardships.” Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Shafiqul Islam said, “Community Healthcare Providers (CHCPs) have received their salaries and allowances under the Community Based Health Care (CBHC) Operation Plan.”  The current government is trying to shift jobs from the development sector to the revenue sector. The process of paying their salaries and allowances from the revenue sector is ongoing. It is hoped that this complication will be resolved soon.