Most of the hospitals and medical centers are yet to be ready to treat coronavirus infected patients across the country, including the capital, said concerned sources. Yesterday the country passed one month since March 8 when the first infected patient was detected. Now the number of infected people in the country stands at 164.
Sources said those hospitals which do not have the necessary trained medical staff and physicians have been listed for treating Covid-19 patients. But there are no physicians in those hospitals to lead teams to make critical decisions to deal with critically distressed patients.
In the meantime, there is no facility to treat patients who had a cardio problem, neuro problem or dialysis.
Even in hospitals other than Kurmitola Hospital, there is no testing facility of the corona samples. Experts say the hospital's preparation for corona treatment is inadequate. According to data from the Combined Corona Control Center, currently the patients with corona infection are being treated at Bangladesh Kuwait Friendship Hospital in the capital.
Besides this, Sheikh Russel Gastro Liver Institute and Hospital, Railway Hospital, Metropolitan General Hospital, Mirpur Lalkuthi Hospital, Regent Hospital Uttara and Mirpur and Sajida Foundation of Jatrabari have also been arranged to provide treatment to corona patients in Dhaka.
Doctors claimed intensive care units (ICUs) and artificial respiratory facilities or ventilation are essential for patients with critical coronavirus patients. But such facilities are not yet available in hospitals. Physicians, nurses and health workers have little access to personal protective equipment. There is a shortage of ventilation, ICU.
Of these, only 3 hospitals have 55 ICU beds, but there are no trained doctors or nurses in the management or care of these ICUs. The World Health Organisation (WHO) directed that staff should be trained in the prevention and control of coronavirus infections in hospitals. In addition, hospitals will have to provide personal protective equipment and artificial respiratory equipment.
Director of the Department of Health (hospitals and clinics) Dr Aminul Hasan said “Eight hospitals have been set up in the capital to treat corona patients only. Apart from this, there are separate beds at Dhaka Medical, Mugda Hospital, Kurmitola, Suhrawardy, and Infectious Diseases Hospital.”
“Such measures have been taken at Kuwait Maitri and Kurmitola Hospital. Isolated patients will be kept in other hospitals only. Those who need more treatment will be taken to those two hospitals.” mElaborating the necessary measures taken, he said, “All that is left will be taken promptly.”
According to the Department of Health, there are currently 300 ICU ventilators in 33 hospitals in the capital and various districts outside.
The 200-bed Lalkuthi Hospital will be used for corona treatment in Mirpur which is basically a new hospital of the family planning department. Still, adequate manpower has not been appointed in that way. The health department has provided the force for corona treatment. Not all of them have joined yet.
