Children with symptoms of measles are still being treated with the balcony and general patients
Photo Collected
The suffering of children admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital with contagious measles and symptoms of the disease is increasing. Unable to get a place in the specialized ward, many children still have to be treated in the balcony of the general ward. In addition to increasing the risk of infection, the condition of critically ill patients is becoming more complicated.
According to hospital sources, 23 children with measles were on the waiting list of the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital on Monday morning. Earlier last Saturday, the number of patients there was 33. Concerned persons said that death is the main reason behind the decrease in this number, not health.
There are only 12 beds in the ICU for measles patients, which is much less than the demand. Deaths are also occurring while waiting in the ICU. A six-month-old baby named Gauri was also number 27 on the waiting list. After two days of waiting, he died without being admitted to the ICU. The next day her father got a call from the ICU. But by that time Gauri is no more in this world.
Gauri died last Saturday afternoon in the measles isolation ward of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. Earlier, he was admitted last Wednesday. At the same time, children who came to the hospital for treatment of other diseases were also reported to be suffering from measles.
In the last 24 hours till this morning, 15 new children have been admitted to Rajshahi Medical College with symptoms of measles. During this time, 38 people returned home after recovery. Currently 109 patients are under treatment in the hospital. A total of 676 people have been treated so far, of which 52 children have died.
Visiting the hospital, it can be seen that there is no room for moles on the balconies of the children’s wards. Not getting space inside the ward, patients and their relatives are staying in the balcony. Patients from various districts including Chapainawabganj, Kushtia, Naogaon have fallen into this crisis.
Six months old baby Saif was found there. Saif’s mother Fensi Begum said that she is staying in the balcony with the child for eight days. As there is no space in the ward, the child with measles has to stay there.
Four-month-old baby Maha is also seen on the same balcony. His house is in Mollapara area of Rajshahi Nagar. 10-month-old baby Swat was found in the balcony of Ward No. 10 along with general patients. His father Sabuj Ali said that their house is in Kushtia. The child was admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital last night. But because there is no space in the ward, I have to stay in the balcony. Seven-month-old Umm Kulsoom is also kept in the same balcony. He was admitted to ward number 10 last night with symptoms of measles.
Earlier last Saturday, a child named Roza from Kushtia was found on the balcony between wards 24 and 14 of the hospital. His grandmother said that they have been staying in the hospital for 26 days. The elder granddaughter Muntaha came for treatment and the younger granddaughter Roza got measles.
Going to ward number 30 designated for measles patients, it was found that not a single bed is empty in that ward of 40 beds. The atmosphere was heavy with the cries of seriously ill children.
Hospital spokesperson Shankar K Biswas said that the number of beds allocated for measles patients is limited. Due to high patient pressure, it is not possible to keep everyone in the ward. However, an initiative is being taken to open another ward soon.
To deal with this situation, a medical board has been formed on April 16 for the treatment of infectious diseases. Brigadier General PKM Masud Ul Islam, director of the hospital, formed this board of eight members. Professor Shahida Yasmin, head of the department of children’s department, has been made the president of the board.
Meanwhile, Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal, in charge of the ICU ward, joined a virtual meeting with Dhaka this afternoon and highlighted the situation in the hospital. There will be a demand for at least 100 ICU beds.
Source: Prothom Alo Bangla
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