Tackling Coronavirus in Sylhet: Preparations fall short
A hospital that has been struggling with lack of equipment and staff members for a decade has been declared "Corona Isolation Centre" in Sylhet, without any upgrades.
While visiting the healthcare centre in the city's Chowhatta area recently, this correspondent found the duty doctor, nurses and a staff member were failing to deal with an Italy returnee and his wife -- who came to the hospital following authorities' order to quarantine themselves there.
The medical staff did not have enough hand gloves or masks, let alone any personal protective equipment (PPE) . As a result, they were visibly apprehensive to examine the suspected coronavirus-affected persons.
This is the situation at Shaheed Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital, which is supposed to be the best bet to tackle the spread of the deadly virus and provide healthcare services to people in the division.
The 100-bed hospital has prepared some cabins and five beds in a ward as an isolation unit.
However, there is no central oxygen supply at the hospital, intensive care unit (ICU) and critical care unit (CCU), advanced medical equipment or any non-contact infrared thermometer.
Sushanto Kumar Mahapatro, resident medical officer at the hospital, said, "We received some PPEs recently, but we weren't satisfied with the quality and asked the authorities to replace those soon."
Meanwhile, to provide healthcare services to Covid-19 affected people, isolation centres have been set up at two hospitals in Sylhet, plus one in Moulvibazar, two in Sunamganj and one in Habiganj.
The hospitals are Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital; Sylhet Infectious Disease Hospital (20-bed), Moulvibazar's Rajnagar Upazila Health Complex (31-bed); Sunamganj Sadar Hospital (50-bed); Dakshin Sunamganj Upazila Health Complex (50-bed) and Habiganj Sheikh Hasina Medical College Hospital (50-bed).
In addition to that, Shahporan Health Complex and Dakshin Surma Health Complex in Sylhet; Bahubal Trauma Centre in Habiganj; Training Institute on Applied Nutrition in Sunamganj; and Rajnagar Upazila Health Complex staff quarter in Moulvibazar are getting ready to quarantine people.
According to medical experts, Sylhet is a "risky zone", having the highest number of expatriates.
Prof Dr Murshed Ahemd Chowdhury, vice chancellor of Sylhet Medical University, said, "Sylhet is at high risk as many people have returned home recently and mingling with others openly."
"It's almost impossible to monitor those who are in home quarantine as many do not have any symptom of cold or fever. The government should consider enforced quarantine for them to protect others," he said.
Dr Murshed also urged the authorities concerned to impose shutdown or movement restriction order in Sylhet.
Asked about the isolation centres, the professor said, "The facilities at the centres are okay for now. But it must be improved when any one is admitted after being diagnosed with the virus. Advanced facilities must be brought in early to remain prepared."
According to the civil surgeon's office in Sylhet, at least 25,218 people from different countries entered Bangladesh through Sylhet Osmani International Airport, Tamabil Land Port and several immigration check posts in the area from February 6 to March 20.
Dr Premananda Mandal, civil surgeon of Sylhet, said, "We have started enforcing home quarantine from March 15 and generating a list of people who came from abroad." He said the lists were being forwarded to all the offices of civil surgeons in the division.
So far, 1,214 people are in home quarantine till Friday while four have been hospitalised.
Dr Debapada Ray, director of health at the Sylhet division DGHS office, said, "The divisional committee is getting ready to tackle the situation. We're also conducting awareness campaign, including all resource persons from different organisations."
When asked about the demand for better quality PPEs, the director said, "Personal protective equipment have been provided to [isolation] centres and more advanced PPEs are under procurement."
The divisional committee is taking all necessary steps in this regard, he added.
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