Data discrepancy leaves Sylhet residents puzzled
How many people actually died of Covid-19 in Sylhet division since the beginning of the pandemic?
The answer could be 825 or 761 till Thursday morning, depending on who one asks.
The first number is according to data of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), and the second was provided by Sylhet Divisional Health Office.
The discrepancy is not only in the death toll. There are mismatches in the number of total infections, district-wise deaths and infections, daily deaths, infection rate and the bed count at Covid-19 isolation units of hospitals.
For how long this has been happening could not be known, but the mismatch was seen in all daily numbers published recently.
However, officials of DGHS and Sylhet Divisional Health Office could not clarify the reason behind the discrepancy.
According to DGHS's data, published on Thursday, a total of 517 people died in Sylhet district, 106 in Sunamganj, 80 in Habiganj and 122 in Moulvibazar.
But Sylhet Divisional Health Office data shows 574 people died in Sylhet district, 55 in Sunamganj, 36 in Habiganj, 61 in Moulvibazar and 35 at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital.
DGHS data shows that a total of 42,975 people got infected till Thursday morning, while Divisional Health Office data says the number is 43,461.
According to DGHS data, 26,729 people got infected in Sylhet district, 5,003 in Sunamganj, 5,226 in Habiganj and 6,017 in Moulvibazar.
But the health office data says 23,544 people got infected in Sylhet district, 5,062 in Sunamganj, 5,249 in Habiganj, 6,030 in Moulvibazar and 3,576 in Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital.
Besides the total count, mismatches were also found in the daily Covid-19 data.
On Thursday, Divisional Health Office data showed 13 people died in the division in the previous 24 hours, while DGHS data said 23 died during the period.
The previous day, health office data showed 20 deaths, while DGHS showed only 5.
In addition to that, DGHS is missing the data of Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital.
Sylhet Divisional Health Office shows that 289 people (112 Covid-positive patients in general beds, eight in ICU and 169 Covid-19-suspected) are admitted at the hospital's Covid-19 isolation unit.
According to hospital authorities, there are 325 general beds and 18 ICU beds in the hospital.
But DGHS data does not show the hospital's bed count.
Dr Himangshu Lal Roy, director of the Sylhet Divisional Health Office, said, "After joining the office as director recently, I've found that there is a huge mismatch between the data we are providing and what DGHS is publishing. It's also causing confusion among people."
"I'm not sure what's causing the mismatch, but I've already communicated with DGHS to resolve the matter as soon as possible," he said.
Contacted, Prof Dr Mijanur Rahman, director (MIS) of DGHS, said, "We publish the compiled report the divisional offices send us. Of my knowledge, there is no mismatch, and this is not supposed to occur."
After mentioning the inconsistencies found by this correspondent, he said, "If so, I will look into the matter and resolve the data gap."
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