Flu corner opened at Suhrawardy hospital

The Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital yesterday opened a flu corner to ensure special care of people coming to hospital with flu.

The development came after five Bangladeshis tested positive for coronavirus since March 8.

Three of them have since recovered and been allowed to go home.

The flu corner, which will be open from 8:00am to 1:00pm every day, is situated in the terrace of the main hospital and treated 150 patients on the first day yesterday.  

Nahid Arefin, a medical officer of the flu corner, said they talked patients with fever, cough, cold and breathing difficulties, and if they exhibit symptoms of COVID-19, the patients will be asked to contact the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR). In serious cases, they will call the IEDCR, officials of whom will come and test the patients for the virus.

"We will ensure special care for people suffering from fevers, coughs, colds and breathing difficulties at the flu corner set at the outdoor of the hospital," Uttam Kumar Barua, director of the hospital told The Daily Star.

While visiting the hospital, our correspondent found that several banners and posters were pasted at different points in and around the hospital directing people suffering from fever, cough, cold and breathing difficulties to go to the flu corner for special care.

"We started the flu corner and dealt with patients suffering from fever and cold. We are talking about how the people became ill and with whom they came in contact, and then we are providing them our treatment based on the symptoms," medical officer Nahid said. "We will refer patients with coronavirus symptoms to the IEDCR for tests."

A woman around 40, who recently came home from Saudi Arabia, went to the flu corner as she has been suffering from fever, cold and throat pain for the last five days, and the medical officers gave her the IEDCR number, asking her to contact them for treatment.

Besides, Professor Mujibur Rahman of the medicine department of Dhaka Medical College, told this correspondent that they are providing special care to people who are coming to the hospital with fever and cough and keeping them away from other patients.