The government is planning to equip all major public hospitals in the country with liquid oxygen plants to facilitate saving lives in case of emergencies.
The decision was been taken at the advent of the possible second wave of the Covid-19 attacks. The National Technical Advisory Committee, formed by the government, is about to place a set of recommendations, including setting up liquid oxygen plants at all the major public hospitals to deal with any rush of Covid-19 patients.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and other experts earlier have warned about the spread of corona in the upcoming winter season. In this circumstance, the national expert committee suggested that apart from identification of the deficiencies at the beginning of COVID-19 infection in last March, some new recommendations are also required.
The committee members said doctors and nurses are being shifted from different hospitals who had been engaged in corona treatment, to other hospitals, which could be a major obstacle for the treatment of corona patients in future. The experiences of the health experts dealing with corona patients are vital.
Experts said they would request the Ministry of Health so that doctors and nurses are not transferred. Besides, the committee members have identified many of the deficiencies they had in the first phase of COVID-19 in Bangladesh. The committee is going to make some recommendations to overcome the deficiencies.
It is widely known that corona outbreak began first in Wuhan of China last winter. Later, it spread in Asia, Europe and America last winter. On the other hand, corona infection started in Bangladesh last March, well after winter had disappeared.
As corona infection started again in Europe at the beginning of winter, it is apprehended that the virus may become more aggressive and make a fresh comeback in Bangladesh during the upcoming winter season as a second wave. And, that is why various cautionary measures are being taken in advance.
The government on April 18 had formed the National Technical Advisory Committee comprising 17 specialist doctors to deal with the Covid-19 situation. The committee has been advising and giving recommendations to the government on various related issues including prevention of COVID-19.
Professor Iqbal Arslan, President of the Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad(SWACHIP) and a member of the National Technical Advisory Committee, said, “We had some deficiencies in dealing with corona last March. Now we have identified them. Alongside overcoming those deficiencies, we are going to make some more recommendations to deal with the second wave of corona attacks.”
Asked about the possible recommendations by the committee, Professor Iqbal Arslan said, “We have noticed that patients are not given sufficient oxygen by different hospitals. That is why we are suggesting that liquid oxygen plants should be set up in every major hospitals.”
“Besides, ventilators are also needed to treat critically ill patients. Doctors and nurses must have proper training arrangements. They need to be trained in this area at a time when corona infections are at low rate,” he said.
