The Rajshahi region is in the cruel grip of coronavirus. There is no way to stop the spread of corona. 300 to 400 patients are being identified in the division every day. The number of patients is increasing especially in the border districts of Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi, Naogaon and Natore.
A two-week regional lockdown is underway in Chapainawabgaj to tackle the situation. The Indian variant of corona has also been identified in that district. Due to this, regional lockdown has also been given in Naogaon which is at risk. New restrictions have been imposed on movement in Rajshahi. Shops in the city are being closed by 6 pm on the instructions of the administration. Even then the situation is not improving in Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Natore and Naogaon. Infections are on the rise.
Patients from these districts are rushing to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) for treatment. But the hospital authorities are not able to admit all the patients due to bed crisis. Only those whose oxygen saturation is reduced can be admitted to the hospital. Since then an average of 10 patients are dying in this hospital every day. A maximum of 16 people died in the hospital's Corona unit last Thursday (June 3) from 8 am to 6 am on Friday (June 4).
Of the 16 people who died, 10 were corona positive. The other six died of symptoms. Among the dead were nine of Chapainawabganj, six of Rajshahi and one of Naogaon. They died while undergoing treatment in ICU and various wards.
Meanwhile, according to the health directorate, 372 new patients have been identified in the division in the last 24 hours. A maximum of 118 corona patients have been identified in Rajshahi. Besides, 109 new corona patients have been identified in Chapainawabganj, 24 in Naogaon, 36 in Natore, 37 in Joypurhat, 15 in Bogra, 14 in Sirajganj and 19 in Pabna.
It has become difficult to treat such a large number of patients every day. Patient space for treatment has become a major problem. If the infection does not subside, the problem may become apparent in a few days. Health officials are worried about this. They have started working on how to solve the problem.
The total number of beds at the largest RMC Hospital in the north is 1,200. Of these, 232 beds have been provided for the treatment of only Covid-19 patients. For this, some wards including burn unit have been converted into corona units. Even then, space constraints are not possible. There has been an outcry among patients for Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds. There are only 15 ICU beds in RMC Hospital. Patients are dying without ICU.
Meanwhile, the Sadar Hospital, which has been closed for a long time due to running out of space at RMC Hospital, is being considered. Divisional Commissioner Humayun Kabir on Thursday noon visited Sadar Hospital. He was accompanied by the director of RMC Hospital and officials of the Public Works Department. This hospital may be opened this time.
The director of RMC Hospital said that apart from RMC Hospital, no other hospital in Rajshahi has a central oxygen supply line in the ward. If there was, it could be used for the treatment of corona. So all the patient’s pressure is on RMC Hospital. Patients from Rajshahi and Khulna divisions are coming here for treatment. Now space constraint has become a big problem.
He said if the Rajshahi Sadar Hospital is opened, some wards of RMC Hospital can be shifted there. Then the corona ward at RMC Hospital can be extended. Corona will not be treated at Sadar Hospital as there is no central oxygen supply line. Attempts are being made to make ward number one of the latest RMC Hospital a corona ward. Now it is not possible to increase the number of corona wards in RMC Hospital unless ordinary patients are shifted elsewhere.
He added that there is also a shortage of doctors treating Covid-19 at RMC Hospital. Based on their demand, the divisional health department has provided 15 doctors here. However, they are still in the previous workplace. May be they will leave soon. But the nurse crisis is not being resolved.
Meanwhile, if more corona patients are admitted to RMC Hospital, the central oxygen supply will also have to be increased, said the hospital director. For this, another oxygen cylinder with a capacity of 20,000 liters of liquid oxygen is being planned. The current cylinder can hold 20,000 liters of liquid oxygen. Linde Bangladesh Limited supplies oxygen in this cylinder. The company has been asked to install another cylinder.