CMCH launches country’s 2nd specialised unit for stroke patients

Chattogram Medical College Hospital today launched its specialised unit for stroke patients at its Neurology Ward, aiming to provide comprehensive treatment to patients.

This is the second specialised treatment centre for stroke patients in the country. Earlier, the facility was available only at the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital at Dhaka's Agargaon.

The 12-bed unit would be run under Neurology Ward of CMCH where comprehensive treatment would be provided by trained doctors, nurses and physiotherapists, said Dr Farhana Moslehuddin, assistant professor of Neurology at CMCH.

Many do not know what to do and where to go for treatment when a family member has a stroke -- a condition for which time is of essence, for prompt treatment and recovery.

Patients can be saved from being paralyzed if treatment can be started within three hours of stroke, Dr Farhana said, adding that the launch of the unit at CMCH can save many stroke patients from being paralyzed.

"The wards at the hospital are of 45 beds each but we have to cater to over 150 patients a day, so it is difficult for the doctors and health staffers to pay full concentration only to stroke patients," Brig Gen SM Humayun Kabir, director of CMCH, said.

"We have launched the specialised stroke unit so that the patients get the highest attention there," he said, adding, "We have provided all logistic facilities and deployed additional manpower to run the unit properly."

Prof Dr Shahena Akter, principal of Chattogram Medical College, said the unit would bring huge benefits to the stroke patients not only from Chattogram but also from adjacent districts including Cox's Bazar, Feni, Noakhali, Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban, as CMCH is the only tertiary level hospital in the region -- treating critical patients from these seven districts.

Brig Gen SM Humayun Kabir, director of Chattogram Medical College Hospital, addressing at the launching event of specialised Stroke Unit at Neurology Ward of CMCH, on Tuesday, October 26, 2021. Photo: Arun BIkash Dey

Contacted, Prof Dr Noman Khaled Chowdhury, head of Neurosurgery ward of CMCH, said "I think, opening of the unit for stroke patients would help them a lot. Stroke patients can be saved from being paralyzed if treatment can be started in three hours. If a person feels vertigo with vision problem all of a sudden, accompanied with weakness in hands or legs on either side of the body, he/she is suspected to have a stroke and should be taken to the hospital immediately."

Prof Dr Hasanuzzaman Chowdhury, head of Neurosurgery department of CMCH, said thrombolytic treatment [administration of drugs to dissolve blood clots] would be introduced in the unit which would help stroke patients and also save their lives.