Pneumonia claims 16 lives in Habiganj in two weeks
Over 1,000 children affected
Sixteen children died of pneumonia and more than 1,000 were attacked with the disease in Habiganj in last two weeks, Sadar hospital sources said.
The dead are Shahida,1, Apurba,9 days, Habibur Rahman,13 days, Shima Akhtar, 2, Sumon,9 months, Shahid,17 months, Nasir, 10 months, Rupali, 2 months, Niloy Das,2 months, Babu,2 days, Babu, 3 days. Five others died within 24 hours of their birth.
the victims died while undergoing treatment at habiganj sadar hospital. Everyday, on average 20 to 30 patients are being admitted to the hospital, official sources said yesterday afternoon.
Hospital sources said, 32 pneumonia patients were admitted to the government-run hospital on August 11 while 36 others on August12 and 28 others on August13.
Meanwhile, diarrhoea also broke out in the area during the period. As many as 13 children were admitted to Habiganj Sadar hospital with diarrhoea on August 11, 12 others got admitted on August 12 and two others on August13, hospital sources said.
An acute scarcity of oral saline and injection is prevailing in the affected area. Guardians alleged that they are compelled to buyg injection and saline from outside at exhorbitant price due to their non-availability at the government hospital. Accommodation problem has worsened the situation. A few guardians said, they are flooring on the hospital.
Contacted, Habiganj civil surgeon Dr Subimal Sinha Chowdhury said, the 100-bed hospital has only 19 beds for children but the number of pneumonia patients exceeded 100 yesterday afternoon. However, the situation is now under control, he claimed.
Because of wet weather, outbreak of pneumonia is a common phenomenon in haor (low- lying areas of Habiganj district in monsoon season, said child physician Dr Abu Sufian. Extra care should be taken for newborns, he cautioned.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments