Patients receiving treatment lying on the floor of Magura 250-bed Hospital in Magura. The facility witnesses an influx of patients every day during the ongoing heatwave — FE Photo MAGURA, Apr 24: The severe heatwave prevailing in the country is spurring outbreak of various diseases and eventually a huge rush of patients daily at Magura 250-bed Hospital in the town.
Sources at the public healthcare facility said they are facing a huge influx of patients on all the working days. Children and elderly people are comparatively more vulnerable to the heat-related diseases.
The hospital has to cope with the additional pressure of patients mostly attacked with fever, diarrhea, heat stroke, pneumonia and other respiratory complications.
At present the hospital is providing treatment to a total of 484 inpatients beyond its capacity of 250 beds.
A recent visit found that a total of 126 child patients had been admitted to the hospital within the past 72 hours while the number of beds in the Child Ward was only 45.
For lack of accommodation, a good number of patients were receiving treatment staying on the floor of the hospital.
On the other hand, severe load shedding mounted sufferings of the patients.
Abu Mian, a resident of Kadirabad village under Magura sadar upazila, told this correspondent, "I have got my grandchild admitted to the hospital as she was attacked with fever and diarrhea. For want of bed, my grandchild is lying on the floor of the hospital. Doctors pay fewer visits to patients compared to the necessities."
"On the other, woes resulting from frequent load-shedding are turning the patients' condition rather worse. Though the hospital has a powerful generator, it has been lying inoperative for years. When electricity is off, we simply go by using hand fan," he said.
Rozina Akhter, who came from Fulbari village of the upazila, said, "I have got my daughter admitted to the hospital as she was attacked with pneumonia. We couldn't manage a space even in the floor of the Child Ward due to the bustling crowd of patients."
"In this situation, we are lying on the passage outside the Child Ward. For want of cleaning, the environment here is very dirty and unhygienic; yet we are forced to pass days here this way," she added.
Mouniddin Hossen, hailing from Beroil village under Magura sadar upazila, said, "I took my father to the hospital as he suffered a heatstroke. But the hospital authorities instantly referred my father to Faridpur Medical College Hospital without giving any treatment."
When contacted, Bikash Shikder, resident medical officer (RMO) of the hospital, admitted that due to shortage of doctors they were facing difficulties in giving treatment to patients.
The hospital has now only 25 doctors while the requirement is 58 according to the setup of a 250-bed hospital.
On the other hand, the hospital has only 13 cleaners as against the requirement of 60.
The hospital has a generator. But to operate the generator fuel of at least Tk5,o00 is required a day. As there is no allocation for the purpose, the generator has been kept unused.
"In the meantime, a building for intensive care unit (ICU) has been constructed in the hospital. But we are unable to open the ICU for want of instrument and manpower," said the RMO.
When contacted, Dr Md Mohshinuddin, superintendent of Magura 250-bed Hospital, said at present the hospital is facing a huge rush of patients, especially those suffering from heat-related diseases.
"We are advising patients to take water and liquid types of food," he added.
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