Cold-hit patients crowd Bagerhat hospital

Bagerhat Sadar Hospital saw a sharp rise in the number of patients, especially minor kids and elderly people, affected with different cold-related diseases in the last couple of days. 

Doctors at the hospital said at least 500 patients, suffering from various diseases like respiratory problems, cold, coughs, fever and diarrhoea, are receiving treatment at the hospital's outdoor everyday.

Besides, about 153 patients are currently admitted at different wards of the hospital and of them, over 50 percent are affected with cold related complications, doctors said.

Over 1000 cold-hit patients, including many minor kids, both indoors and outdoors have received treatment at Bagerhat Sadar Hospital in the last one week, Resident Medical Officer (RMO) of the hospital Dr Mohammad Moshiur Rahman said.

On the other hand, many patients have been compelled to stay on different corridors and floors due to lack of adequate bed facilities at the hospital, he said, adding that they were advising the patients or their attendances to adopt safety measured, instead of getting panicked.

Eighty-five-year-old Rabiul Islam of Harikhali village in Sadar upazila said he had been suffering from acute respiratory problem for the last couple of days and took admission at the hospital three days ago.

When this correspondent visited the hospital on Thursday, Kohinoor Begum, 40, another patient having the same problem, said she was admitted there the other night and had to spend the whole night on the floor of a veranda amid severe cold as she had no alternative options.

Guardian of an infant Rabiul Islam said they were not getting proper treatment as the hospital does not have any child specialist, adding that he wants immediate appointment of a child specialist there.

RMO Moshiur said they were struggling to cope with the present situation as the number of cold-affected patients is increasing everyday, but not referring patients to other hospitals or clinics.