Dearth of paediatrics deprives children of better care

BENAPOLE, Apr 13: Children of Jashore's Sharsha and Jhikargacha upazilas have been deprived of better medical care due to the lack of paediatricians in the upazilas' two government hospitals, which have sanctioned posts for specialised doctors for children.
Victims say one doctor is often forced to perform the duties of another due to the absence of paediatricians and junior physicians have been attending to child patients.
If a child's condition worsens even slightly, they are referred to the 250 Bed General Hospital, Jashore, which increases both financial burden and suffering for patients' families, the victims also said. Meanwhile, the number of patients seeking treatment for cold related illnesses rose in winter and the pressure of child patients at the Jashore Hospital also increased as a result. This led to overcrowding at both inpatient and outpatient paediatric departments.
There are patients of cold-related illnesses in almost every household. Rahila Begum and Rokeya Khatun said both of their children are suffering from such illnesses and breathing difficulties. As there is no specialist doctor at the Sharsha Upazila Health Complex, they brought their children to the hospital in Jashore.
Lalia Khatun, a housewife from Matikumra village in Jhikargacha upazila, said their son fell ill in the severe cold. On Sunday, they went to Jhikargachha Upazila Health Complex for treatment, but were referred to the government hospital in Jashore. They alleged that only nominal treatment is provided for children in Jhikargacha.
Dr. Hossain Safayat, superintendent of 250 Bed General Hospital, Jashore, said that the number of paediatric patients with cold-related illnesses has increased. This situation has arisen because children are deprived of services at upazila health complexes due to the lack of specialist doctors.
Jashore Civil Surgeon Dr. Masud Rana said that the posts of specialist doctors for children at the upazila health complexes in Sharsha and Jhikargacha are vacant. However, for the benefit of paediatric patients, medical officers are providing treatment regularly. When a patient's condition becomes more serious, they are referred to the district hospital.

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