CMCH doctor dies of Covid-19

Associate professor and head of the orthopedics department at Chattogram Medical College Hospital, Dr Samirul Islam died from Covid-19 yesterday afternoon.

Dr Sheikh Fazle Rabbi, Chattogram Civil Surgeon, said 220 doctors in Chattogram tested positive. Of them, eight, including Samirul, died.

He was undergoing treatment at CMCH since May 21 and was given plasma therapy on May 26.

After testing negative for Covid-19 two consecutive times, his lungs were still in bad shape, said Dr Aniruddha Ghosh, associate professor of medicine at CMCH.

Samirul's family shifted him to a private hospital in the port city on Monday, said Brig Gen SM Humayun Kabir, director of CMCH, adding that his health condition suddenly deteriorated yesterday and he was put under a ventilator at Metropolitan Hospital where he died around 2:25pm.

His death was mourned by many on social media as Samirul was known as a humanitarian doctor.

Journalist and poet Bishwajit Chowdhury wrote, "How an unknown person can become so dear after the very first meeting, I understood when I met Dr Samirul…Patients praised his amicable behaviour and professional attitude. I can't believe he is no more.. I can't hold my tears."

Abdur Rob, a senior consultant of Medicine at Chattogram General Hospital, said Samirul was a very good person. "All the good are dying young. Such a loss is irreplaceable," he said.

Reaz Hyder Chowdhury, general secretary of Peshajibi Samannoy Parishad in Chattogram, said the death of a good doctor like Samirul is a great loss for society.

More than 4,000 healthcare staffers, including 1,268 doctors and 1,199 nurses, have so far been infected with Covid-19. At least 45 doctors and nurses and eight other healthcare staffers died of the virus so far, according to the Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA).

The BMA has accused the health ministry of reluctance to ensuring safety and security of doctors at workplace during coronavirus pandemic.