Dialysis service resumes after month and a half

Dialysis of kidney patients at Rangpur Medical College Hospital (RMCH) resumed on Satuday after around one and a half months, after an expatriate Bangladeshi living in the united States financially helped repair a faulty water treatment plant, which was responsible for the halt. 

Dialysis support at the hospital had remained suspended since April 8.

A significant number of kidney patients in eight districts of Rangpur division who needed dialysis suffered during the period, as most of the districts lack the services.

Dialysis service is available at M Abdur Rahim Medical College Hospital, and at private hospitals in Rangpur, but it is expensive.

Dr Mobasser Hossain, head of RMCH's nephrology department, confirmed the matter on Sunday, saying the dialysis service started on Saturday afternoon, after one of the two water treatment plants was repaired.

Purified water is needed for dialysis, he said.

There are 26 dialysis machines at the hospital. Of them, only 14 are functional. As a result, they find it hard to meet the demand, he said.

After the water treatment plant problem was reported, hospital authorities wrote letters to various departments, including the ministry and health department, seeking fund allocation to repair the plant, but no progress was seen.

Syeda Afroza Beauty, an American expatriate, finally came forward to help the hospital repair the plant, which was done on Saturday.

With current support, dialysis of 40 patients can be done per day, said the officials.