Battle for life
Rasheda Begum has been attending her critically injured daughter at the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital for the last 11 days.
Her daughter, Farzana Aktar, suffered 20 percent burns in a deadly fire that broke out at a gas light factory in Ashulia on November 22. Farzana took a job there only a month ago.
Whenever a doctor or a nurse is around, Rasheda asks them if her daughter's condition is improving. So worried she is that she cannot think of leaving her daughter unattended for a while.
“There are nurses and doctors who look after her. But as a mother how can I do nothing when she whimpers or writhes in pain. Besides, nurses are not available all the time,” said Rasheda.
She said she had been sleeping for only 3-4 hours for the last few days, as she needs to feed her daughter, prepare medicines and clean her wounds.
Like Rasheda, anxious relatives of other burn victims of the incident are going through a tough time. Many of them are staying at the unit to attend their loved ones.
At least 26 female workers, mostly minors, suffered burns in the incident. Five of them were admitted to Enam Medical College Hospital in Savar while the rest were taken to the DMCH burn unit in critical condition.
Four of them died of their wounds at the burn unit, while one was released after treatment. Sixteen victims were taking treatment there when these correspondents visited the hospital on Thursday.
Doctors said their condition was critical as they suffered 12 to 70 percent burns. All of them got their respiratory tracts damaged.
Fifteen-year-old Halima Begum suffered 25 percent burns. Her mother-in-law, Nehara Begum, had 40 percent of her body burnt and was undergoing treatment at the intensive care unit (ICU) of the burn unit.
Halima's husband Bulbul Hossain, a cleaner at Ashulia, said he plunged into financial hardship, as two earning members of his family got injured.
“I stopped work and asked my father and father-in-law to help me,” he said.
Samanta Lal Sen, national coordinator of burn units across the country, said it would take one to two months for some victims to recover from their injuries.
They might have to wait three to six more months to resume their work, he said, adding, “Some patients may need plastic surgery.”
Partha Sankar Paul, resident surgeon of the burn unit, said burnt patients with damaged respiratory tracts are more critical than those who suffer only body burns.
Hafiza Begum, who suffered 20 percent burns, told The Daily Star that she was very frightened when the fire engulfed the factory.
“I am a bit happy now as doctors said my condition is improving,” she said, adding that she would go back to her village home in Jamalpur once she is released from the hospital.
As there is an acute shortage of nurses and lower tier staff at the burn unit, the authorities allowed relatives to attend their patients, said hospital sources. Samanta Lal also admitted that they have a shortage of nurses.
However, some relatives of the victims said they had to quit their job to look after their loved ones, while others said they managed temporary leave.
Bilkis Akter, elder sister of two burn victims -- Lovely Akter and Fatema Akter -- said she quit her job at a garment factory to attend her sisters, as her employer refused to grant her leave.
The hospital authorities are bearing all medical expenses of the victims.
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