Diarrhoea, pneumonia alarming in B'baria

A partial view of the corridor at the diarrhoea ward at Brahmanbaria Sadar Hospital, crowded with patients. The photo was taken yesterday. PHOTO: STAR

Pneumonia claimed five lives and diarrhoea one, they said.

Patients coming to Upazila health complexes and Brahman-baria Sadar Hospital with diarrhoea and pneumonia are increasing they said.

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The diarrhoea ward at the Sadar hospital was seen packed with patients yesterday, many on floors and corridors.

Finding no space at the hospital, many disrrhoea patients were going to private clinics in the town.

The people coming to hospitals in the town said diarrhoea has spread in many of the flood affected areas and flood shelters.

There are many disrrhoea patients at flood shelters at Sultanpur, Kazipara, Sarkerpara, Sultanpur, Baraibari, Bertola, Birampur, Maurail, Sunarampur, Patton, Chutaharun, Shuhilpur Beel Kendua, Araushidha, reports reaching here said.

The actual number of diarrhoea patents will be much more than the official estimate because many patients are taking treatment at homes and at flood shelters, people coming to hospitals said.

Health workers are giving incorrect reports to the Civil Surgeon, they claimed.

One Mahbubul Alam of Saydebod village alleged that villagers are not getting any treatment as no health worker visited his village since the flood began.

At Brahmanbaria Sadar Hospital, many patients alleged that they were not getting required oral saline packets. Some others claimed that they had to buy intra-venus (IV) saline from outside.

This correspondent during a visit yesterday saw an awful scene at the hospital. At least 70 patients were lying on dirty floors.

Senior Staff Nurse Monwara Begum said only 25 to 30 IV saline injections were supplied daily. The requirement is much more. So patients have to buy those from outside.

When contacted, Civil Surgeon Md Ishak Khan said 136 medical teams are working in the district. There is shortage of IV saline as only 1166 are in the store for the whole distract, he said.

He said he sought 45,00,000 oral saline packets, 60,50,000 water purification tablets and 2,00,000 IV saline injections but got only 50,000 oral saline, 5000 water tablets and 500 IV saline injections. This is too little to cope with the demand, he said.