Garbage is strewn everywhere, both inside and outside Thakurgaon General Hospital. Cockroaches have infested the walls, turning the hospital into their breeding ground. In this unhygienic environment, patients and their relatives are forced to seek treatment at the 250-bed facility.
Cockroaches are found nesting beneath bed sheets, crawling across the floor, and even contaminating food. The infestation is so severe that several patients and their relatives have reported being bitten, forcing some to leave the hospital altogether.
The hospital was established with 50 beds in 1987, expanded to 100 beds in 1997, and finally upgraded to 250 beds in 2020. Despite this expansion, the hospital struggles to accommodate the 700-800 patients who visit daily. As the only medical facility for the poor and middle class in the region, it serves not only the residents of five upazilas in Thakurgaon district but also patients from neighboring districts. However, severe mismanagement has left both patients and their families in dire conditions.
In the children's ward, the lack of designated waste disposal areas results in leftover food rotting in damp conditions, creating an unbearable stench. Poor sanitation further aggravates the situation, making it difficult for patients to breathe comfortably. Many hospital wards, including the medicine and gynecology departments, have cockroach nests in the beds, walls, and storage areas.
The hospital has become a serious health hazard. Garbage is scattered over the premises, and the environment is so unclean that visitors must cover their noses and mouths upon entry. Yet, no one seems to take responsibility.
While poor management is the primary cause of this crisis, the lack of awareness and hygiene among some patients and their attendants also contributes to the rapid deterioration of cleanliness, particularly in the hospital wards and washrooms.
Urgent intervention is needed to restore basic sanitation and ensure a safe, hygienic environment for patients and healthcare staff alike. Without immediate action, Thakurgaon General Hospital will be a symbol health hazard rather than a place of healing.
Ashikujaman Syed
Business Development Manager
Fuyi (Xiamen) Material Technology Co. Ltd
Xiamen, China
syedashikujaman@yahoo.com
