Bangladesh
is a densely populated country. In comparison to her population the numbers of
doctors are a few. So it goes without saying that the village doctor is a
person of great importance. He is quite familiar to the villagers.
The
village doctor is not qualified. He does not have a good schooling. He takes
the job of a salesman in a medicine shop or the works as a compounder under a
qualified physician. He also reads some medical books at home. Thus he gathers
experience. He also masters the art of pushing injections, stitching and
bandaging. Then he sets up a dispensary at a convenient place. His stock of
medicine is very poor. His dispensary offers a poor show. There are two or
three old admirals in which he pre3serves his medicines. He has a poor wooden
chair to or sit on and a broken table of poor quality. There is one or two
benches for the visitors and patients to sit on.
The
village doctor leads a very hard and busy life. He gets up early in the
morning, takes his breakfast and becomes ready for the day’s work. He begins to
attend the patients who gather at his dispensary. After finishing the work of
examining the patients, prescribing and preparing the medicines, he goes out to
attend the patients who are unable to go to his dispensary. He returns late in
the afternoon finishing his daily round. Then he takes his meal and enjoys rest
for the benefit of his own health. In the evening he again gets ready to attend
to his patients. He does not mind in attending a patient lying in critical
condition during late hours of night.
Though
the village doctor sometimes worsens the disease of patients, he is the most
trusted person to the villagers. He is the best friend to the village people
because they find him whenever they call him. He shares their weal and woe.
The
village doctor is not so well off. He is satisfied with what he earns. He does
not hanker after money. Medical treatment to the villagers is his noble mission
in life. His joys know no bound when he sees his patients recovered. Though he
is not much qualified, he is of great help to the villagers.