Brahmanbaria hospital needs a dose of cleaning
The 150-bed hospital was expanded to 250 bed facility without developing the sewerage network
Two grave problems. The first one is that huge number of attendants are visiting the patients every day messing with the limited facilities of the hospital. And the second one is the sanitation of the healthcare facility — serving the 250-bed hospital which was built for 150.
Brahmanbaria 250-bed Zila Sadar Hospital, the lone option for the local poor, has been suffering from seat crisis, messy environment and insufficient ticket counter. These issues are putting the patients and their relatives in a fix.
However, the hospital authorities said that as much as 80 percent of those problems will be automatically resolved if the number of attendants of the patients can be slashed.
Director of the hospital Dr Shawkat Hossen himself is upset with the healthcare facility.
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He said, "At least 25 attendants visit a single patient and they keep coming round the clock. This rush put a huge pressure on the sewerage system."
The hospital was established in 1992 at Kumarshil area of the district headquarter. The 100-bed hospital was extended to 250 in 2012. Building expansions were carried out in several phases later. The hospital currently has nine wards including surgery, medicine, gynaecology, cardiology and orthopaedics.
Director of the hospital Dr Shawkat said that they talked to the Public Works Department regarding the sewerage issue.
"According to the department, to expand the existing sewerage networks, the total building will have to be rebuilt," added Dr Shawkat. He complained, "Our staffers often get assaulted to check the attendant number."
Besides, patients alleged that they get exhausted standing in the long queues to collect tickets at the emergency department. Only two counters tackle the patient rush.
Meantime, many were found lying on the floor due to bed crunch. The odour from the toilets and messy environment intensify their sufferings.
Honufa Begum, a patient's relative, has been attending for two days. She said the odour made her sick.
Another attendant Dulal Mia said her daughter went under a surgery two months ago at the hospital. The father had to bring her girl again as she felt sick.
"The toilets are horrible. And wards are too messy to stay," he alleged.
In the meantime, Arif Mia, a patient, also complained that the wards remain dark most of the time as daylight does not reach there.
Director of the hospital Dr Shawkat was asked about the problems. He said that they are trying their best with the limited resources to serve the patients.
