No ICU, ventilator facilities at designated Covid-19 hospitals in Cox’s Bazar

Although the coronavirus situation in Cox's Bazar is deteriorating with sharp rise in the number of detected cases, no step has yet been taken to install intensive care facility at the dedicated Covid-19 hospitals in the district, with the hospitals ill-equipped for oxygen supply and ventilator support in treating patients in critical condition.

Talking to The Daily Star, Dr Mahbubur Rahman, a renowned public health expert and general secretary of Bangladesh Medical Association in Cox's Bazar, said there is no ICU facility and ventilation support in the district for treatment of critical Covid-19 patients.

Expressing worry that this might lead to deaths from Covid-19 which could have been prevented, he said, "If the facilities are not installed in the district soon, many patients may have to die without getting proper treatment."

He called upon the affluent people of society, local and foreign NGOs to come forward in this regard.

Karim Ullah, convener of a citizens' platform 'Amra Cox's Bazar Bashi', demanded the authorities concerned to set up ICU facilities with ventilator and oxygen support at the Cox's Bazar District Sadar Hospital on an urgent basis.

"Every day a number of patients are dying here due to lack of these medical facilities, and the situation will turn worse if the facilities are not installed," he said.

He added that they would announce programmes to meet their demand if the authorities do not take any prompt measure in this regard.