Dengue has become endemic to Bangladesh. More and more dengue patients are requiring hospitalisation nowadays. A total of 3,122 new dengue cases were reported in 24 hours on Sunday, the highest number of patients hospitalised in a day with the mosquito-borne disease this year. During the period, eighteen more deaths were reported from the viral fever, raising the fatalities from the disease to 822 this year, according to the Directorate General of Health Services. However, the sharp spike in dengue cases this year should not come as a surprise as health experts had been flagging this concern for long.
But the authorities concerned apparently neither paid sufficient heed to this concern, nor took timely measures to strengthen the healthcare system to cope up with rising number of dengue cases. Starting from a shortage of regular beds, ICU facilities and scarcity of saline, public hospitals are losing the battle against dengue infection. Critical patients lying in hospital corridors are not an unfamiliar scene in government hospitals in Dhaka. The scenario outside the capital is no better either.
When dengue infections reach a critical level, public hospitals find it difficult to deal with the onrush of patients. So, every hospital should dedicate a particular ward for dengue patients. These hospitals should ensure treatment for every dengue patient by providing at least one regular bed for them. No dengue patient should receive treatment in hospital corridor or on the floor.
Afroza Sheikh,
Dania, Dhaka,
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