Mounting Pressure of Covid-19 Patients: SBMCH urges Barishal citizens to volunteer
The Barishal District Coronavirus Prevention Committee and Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH) authorities have called upon Barishal citizens to volunteer at SBMCH to help with the hospital's Covid-19 efforts.
The assistance was sought at a press conference held at Barishal Circuit House Conference Centre yesterday.
In addition, speakers urged affluent people to step up with their resources, as the hospital plunges deeper into an oxygen cylinder and high-flow oxygen crisis.
Dr Saiful Islam, director of the hospital, told the press conference that though SBMCH serves as an important stop for Covid-19 treatment in the division, they did not get any separate allocation of human resources to run the Covid-19 unit. They are being forced to distribute the heavy duties among existing staff.
"We are now at a serious shortage of people, equipment, and oxygen," he stated.
"We have 40 doctors at the unit, which is about one-fifth of the requirement for its 300 high-involvement beds. There are 80 nurses, which is only a quarter of what he we need, and 45 volunteers, about one-sixth of the requirement."
Another result of this is the discipline breakdown the unit is facing, he said. "Some patients' attendants are forcibly taking oxygen cylinders from us and hogging them. This stockpiling is leading to others not getting cylinders at all," Dr Saiful said.
There are 600 cylinders, including 553 small cylinders. This should have been enough, he said, if the patients' relatives did not take more than one cylinder at a time.
The attendants, mostly relatives of the patients, are causing more disruption in the unit. "Sometimes, they're occupying ICUs. They also threaten us over miniscule demands, to the point where we've even had to call police."
More people working for the unit could help with this. But although recruitment talks are underway, they are yet to reach anywhere, which is why signing up more volunteers can be a viable alternative, Dr Saiful said.
"Having more volunteers in our team could help mitigate the problem, which is why we request the people of Barishal to join us in this time of need. Otherwise the hospital will not be able to run properly," he said.
However, some volunteers are demanding money from the patients, which is creating unwanted scenarios. A committee has been formed to deal with this, he informed.
Dr Manowar Hossain, civil surgeon of Barishal, said, "We have plans to start providing Covid treatment at more hospitals. We have visited Ambia Hospital, Rahat Anwar Hospital, and South Apollo Hospital in this regard."
Jasimuddin Haider, deputy commissioner of Barishal and chairperson of the Corona Prevention Committee, said, "We are working to ensure that Covid treatment is available at private hospitals for those who can afford it. Hopefully, we can start this soon."
"In addition, a 20-bed Hospital has been set up at the Mother and Child Welfare Centre for female patients, while Barishal General Hospital has been turned into a 100-bed Covid-dedicated hospital, with plans in motion to increase its 320 beds to 600," the DC said.