Uphill battle for oxygen cylinders
Taslima Begum was waiting in queue for an oxygen cylinder at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital's (SBMCH) Covid-19 unit from 9am to 12pm on Monday. After struggling for three hours, she was finally able to get a cylinder.
She told The Daily Star that at least three hours a day are spent trying to get a cylinder.
Although her husband was admitted there three days ago for Covid-19, he had not received central oxygen yet. His oxygen level had dropped to less than 85.
Saiful Islam from Bakerganj said at least a hundred people stand in queue for oxygen cylinders every day, but everyone does not get it. Family members fear that oxygen for their patients will run out.
Although there are 300 beds at the hospital, over 350 patients are admitted at the unit, said Covid ward staffer Ferdous. The central oxygen line can facilitate only 97 patients. There are 500 cylinders for others, but currently, they have to be refilled at least three times a day.
After visiting the Covid ward around noon on Monday, at least 60 people were seen waiting for cylinders.
Bappi Ghosh, whose mother is being treated at the hospital, said even though her oxygen level dropped to 55, she did not get high-flow or central oxygen immediately. They had to make do with oxygen cylinders for six hours.
One patient was admitted from Pirojpur's Swarupkathi upazila. The on-duty nurse brought a cylinder from another patient and gave it to him when his acute respiratory distress started yesterday.
Every day, a battle for cylinders takes place at the hospital. Many try to get extra cylinders for their patients by various means.
A relative of a Covid-19 patient admitted there said, "We've heard that it's not possible to get oxygen here when needed. As a result, we are already bringing in oxygen cylinders to save the patient."
Another patient said he also brought two oxygen cylinders from home for emergency needs.
Asked, Corona Isolation Unit In-charge and SBMCH Assistant Director Dr Moniruzzaman said some are using one cylinder after another without emptying them, which is wasting oxygen. Many are even taking more than one cylinder.
Not everyone needs oxygen. Moreover, there is no shortage of oxygen, if needed. Half the patients are going to get central oxygen, he said.
SBMCH Director Dr Saiful Islam said the oxygen plant there has a capacity of over 9,000 litres. Although another oxygen plant has been constructed, Spectra Company, the firm contracted for the plant's operation, demanded a higher price rate for oxygen. Therefore, a proposal has been sent to the concerned ministry in this regard.
The decision will come from the ministry, and it will fix the price of oxygen. After that, it will be possible to launch the plant. Once it starts operation, there will be no more problems, he said.
"Currently, we are facing an oxygen cylinder crisis, not oxygen. For this, we have asked Unicef for a hundred cylinders. Apart from this, I have requested the upazila-level hospitals to return 85 more cylinders. If they become available, there will be no problem," he said.
Apart from this, Abul Khair Group has given 30 cylinders, and the mayor has also given 30.
A doctor working in the Covid-19 ward said there is a high demand for oxygen cylinders. As the number of patients increases, the demand for oxygen rises too.
He said at least 200 more cylinders are needed at the moment. Due to the small diameter of the central oxygen line, the flow is relatively low, which is also causing problems for Covid-19 patients.
Contacted, Barishal Deputy Commissioner Md Jashimuddin said keeping more than one oxygen cylinder is unacceptable. He directed a committee to act in this regard.
Eighteen people died from Covid-19 in Barishal division yesterday. Sources at SBMCH said 14 died yesterday, including three Covid-19 patients and 11 who showed symptoms, bringing the death toll to 1,131 at the Covid-19 ward.
Barisal Divisional Health Director Dr Basudeb Kumar Das said only Covid-19 patients with severe symptoms should go to SBMCH, not general patients from other districts and upazilas, to reduce the pressure on the hospital.
'ENSURE UNINTERRUPTED OXYGEN SUPPLY'
A group of activists yesterday demonstrated in front of SBMCH's Covid unit, demanding an end to the oxygen crisis and ensuring its uninterrupted supply.
Barishal unit of Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) organised the human chain at 11am. Speakers said due to the oxygen crisis at the hospital, patients are suffering.
They also said oxygen crisis was one of the reasons behind the increase in Covid-related deaths in Barishal.
Imran Habib Rumon, convener of BSD (Barishal district), who presided over the event, claimed that every night, 25 to 30 people call them to get oxygen cylinders.
Speakers demanded immediate and uninterrupted supply of oxygen for all patients of the unit through setting up another central oxygen plant.
The event was conducted by BSD member Bijan Sikder. Dr Manisha Chakraborty, member secretary of BSD, and Manik Hawlader, general secretary of Socialist Workers' Front, among others, addressed the event.
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