Hospitals without power
Sunday, 16 March 2008
CAN anyone think that eight hospitals in a capital city would go without electricity for hours together? Yes, we have seen that situation only recently in the capital's eight major hospitals due to power outage. Hospitals located in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Shyamoli and Agargaon had to function without power from six in the morning until late in the afternoon. Practically, the hospitals ceased to function for about ten hours.
The power outage originating from transmission line disruption caused immense sufferings to the patients as the intensive care units, coronary care units, operation theatres, pathology departments and wards in these hospitals could not provide the badly needed service to the serious patients. Almost all scheduled operations had to be postponed. Water and oxygen supplies came to near halt. An under-threatment child at the Dhaka Shishu Hospital died during the power outage.
The plight highlights the state of affairs in the power sector. The present regime would say it inherited the problem that persisted for years. But it is shocking to know that this government stopped supply of diesel to these hospitals since June last year for which the authorities there werere unable to operate the hospital generators. Is there any one to explain what prompted the government to take such a decision? How much money could the government save from this? A majority of the common people seek treatment at the public hospitals. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure that these hospitals are properly equipped and have the resources to provide treatment even during the power outages.
Hamidul Haque
College Gate
Shere Bangla Nagar, Dhaka
The power outage originating from transmission line disruption caused immense sufferings to the patients as the intensive care units, coronary care units, operation theatres, pathology departments and wards in these hospitals could not provide the badly needed service to the serious patients. Almost all scheduled operations had to be postponed. Water and oxygen supplies came to near halt. An under-threatment child at the Dhaka Shishu Hospital died during the power outage.
The plight highlights the state of affairs in the power sector. The present regime would say it inherited the problem that persisted for years. But it is shocking to know that this government stopped supply of diesel to these hospitals since June last year for which the authorities there werere unable to operate the hospital generators. Is there any one to explain what prompted the government to take such a decision? How much money could the government save from this? A majority of the common people seek treatment at the public hospitals. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure that these hospitals are properly equipped and have the resources to provide treatment even during the power outages.
Hamidul Haque
College Gate
Shere Bangla Nagar, Dhaka