Lack of ICU, oxygen makes corona treatment difficult in Magura hospital amid surge in cases

OUR CORRESPONDENTS
MAGURA, July 10: Lack of oxygen and ICU makes corona treatment difficult in Magura hospital amid the surge in corona patients in the district.
But non-availability of medicines, inadequate oxygen facility, manpower and doctor crisis, lack of ICU are making treatment difficult both in isolation ward and corona unit of Magura 250- bed hospital.
Some injections like Remdisivir, Parinox and cardinex essential for critical corona patients are not available in local market. Crisis of medicines raised concern among the patients.
On contact, Shajib Ahmed, a pharmacy owner of Atar Ali road in Magura town, said, "We are facing crisis of some corona injections. We are collecting them from Faridpur and Jashore following order of patients consuming more time and money".
But only three doctors are deployed in corona unit and isolation ward of 250- bed hospital. At least 10 doctors are required here.
On the other hand, only one ward boy, one cleaner and five nurses are working in corona unit and isolation ward.
But the necessity is much higher. Corona unit and isolation ward holds only 92 oxygen cylinders while the requirement is about two hundred.
The hospital now holds six high flow nassal cannula machines. But the machines may go inoperative at any time due to oxygen crisis.
Though corona unit is provided with central oxygen system, isolation ward is devoid of it. For want of ICU critical patients are moving towards Faridpur and Dhaka for better treatment.
On contact, Kamrul Islam of Nanduali under Magura town, said, "On July 7, my younger brother was admitted to Magura 250-bed hospital as he was in a critical condition being attacked with corona. But for want of ICU his condition deteriorated and we shifted him to Dhaka".
During a visit to the hospital, health rules were seen to be violated indiscriminately in isolation ward. Friends and relatives are always surrounding their patients causing health hazard.
But they are not obstructed to visit the patients. Allegation has it that the death toll from corona is officially 36 till July 10 in the district. But the toll is actually higher.
Magura district civil surgeon Dr Shahidulah Dewan said, "In the meantime, we have managed to collect oxygen from different corners. So the oxygen crisis is now not so acute. We have instructed doctors to prescribe medicines which are available in the market avoiding them which are unavailable".
However, he admitted manpower inadequacy in corona unit and isolation wards, and lack of ICU support.
When he was asked about concealing death toll he said, "Though we collected sample, we sent it outside Magura for examination. So it's a time consuming matter to tell whether a death is from corona or not."
Our Netrakona Correspondent adds: Netrakona Madan Upazila 50-bed health complex is plagued with various problems. Covid- 19 medical services are not available in the complex due to manpower crisis and mechanical faults.
Even if there are equipment, they have become useless as they have not been used for a long time. The X-ray machine that broke down due to a mechanical fault 11 years ago was not repaired.
Although a new X-ray machine was brought in January, it is still packed as there is no technician. The ECG machine is out of order for one year and the room is locked. Crippled dental chairs are arranged in the room for dental treatment.
Meanwhile, even though there is an ultrasonogram machine, the doctors are sending patients to a private clinic. On an average, more than 50 ultrasonogram tests are done every day in private clinics.
However, in the last 6 months, about 50 ultrasonogram tests have been done in the hospital, according to relevant sources. As a result, many patients who come to the government hospital for medical treatment are suffering. They are being forced to go to various outpatient clinics and diagnostic centers as they are not able to get the necessary X-rays, ultras, ECGs and tests as per the advice of the doctors.
Madan Upazila Health Complex is located in front of Madan Upazila Parishad on Khaliajuri-Netrakona road. This hospital is the only place for more than 0.2 million (2 lakh) people of the upazila to get health services. But due to the ineffectiveness of important X-ray machines, ultrasound, ECG and dental machines, the normal medical services in the government hospital are being severely hampered.

                                                                                                       The main gate of the Netrakona Madan Upazila
                                                                                                                                                          — FE Photo

According to hospital sources, the 50-bed hospital has 29 posts of doctors but 15 posts are vacant. Out of 15 posts in the second class, 9 posts are vacant. There are 26 vacancies out of 75 posts in class three and four out of 26 vacancies in the fourth class.
Although two ambulances have been allocated for the patients, the service has been providing with one ambulance since 2003. It also often goes out of order on the road with patients.
Talking to a few patients, it was learnt that the number of maternity patients is high in the hospital. Patients do not get proper treatment in the hospital due to useless equipment.
Kamal Hossain, a local media worker, said patients have not been getting proper services at government hospital for a long time due to manpower and equipment shortage.
Madan Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Mohammad Hasanul Hossain said medical services are being provided to the patients who come to the hospital for treatment. But due to manpower crisis it is not possible to give 100 per cent treatment. The new X-ray machine cannot be started due to lack of technicians.
Netrakona Civil Surgeon Dr Selim Mia said medical services were being disrupted due to manpower crisis. "This year I have received a letter of new ambulance allocation for Madan Upazila Health Complex. It will be handed over soon."
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