Diarrhoea Situation Alarming
Lone child hospital in Khulna struggles to cope with patients
Mothers with their diarrhoea-affected children stay on the floor of Khulna Shishu Hospital as the lone child hospital in the division struggles to cope with around three times more patients than capacity. Photo: STAR
Khulna Shishu Hospital, the lone child hospital in Khulna division, is struggling to provide medical service for increasing number of diarrhoea patients as the disease has broken out in Khulna city and neighbouring upazilas. The 218-bed hospital run by Khulna Shishu Foundation can hardly accommodate around 500 patients, including those kept on floors under special arrangement, said hospital officials. But 1,264 diarrhoea patients were taking treatment at four wards and 30 cabins of the hospital on Wednesday, acting Administrative Officer Shila Halder said, adding that number of patients with other diseases like pneumonia, jaundice and intestinal disorders are also on the rise. Diarrhoea situation, especially in slum areas of the city, is worsening due to hot weather and climate change while treatment at the hospital is being hampered due to shortage of doctors and life saving medicines including orsaline in addition to accommodation problem, said Dr Noor-e-Alam Siddiquii, medical officer of Khulna Shishu Hospital. Guardians of children with usual diarrhoea are suggested not to bring them to the hospital as it can be cured with orsaline, and paracetamol tablets in case of fever, he said. Several guardians alleged that children admitted to the hospital do not get proper medical services from doctors and nurses. "I had to call in a doctor from outside when condition of my one-year-old daughter Pritha deteriorated as no doctor visited during 24 hours of her admission to Khulna Shishu Hospital on Tuesday," said Pranob Debnath of Rupsha upazila in Khulna district. Contacted, Sheikh Abdul Kayyum, secretary general of Khulna Shishu Foundation, said, "Proper medical services cannot be provided to all the patients due to shortage of doctors and nurses. Still the hospital authorities are trying heart and soul to take proper care of patients."
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