Jumbangla Desk: According to the report of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics Census-2022, the population of Rajshahi division of 18 thousand 154 square kilometers is about 2 crore 3 lakh 53 thousand 116 people. The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) has only 50 total beds for this huge population. There are also various crises. Does not reflect international standards or WHO guidelines. In this, the critical patients are being deprived of ICU services which are very important in medical care. Falling into the arms of certain death.

ICU

Rajshahi division consists of 8 districts. Rajshahi, Natore, Naogaon, Chapainawabganj, Pabna, Sirajganj, Bogra and Joypurhat. The division has a total of 39 parliamentary constituencies including a city corporation. There are 67 upazilas, 62 municipalities and 565 union councils. The health department does not have the ability to provide ICU services to one patient every day from a parliamentary seat!

According to the relevant sources of the health department, only two districts of Rajshahi division have ICU facilities. Rajshahi-Bogra Medical College Hospital has this facility. Rajshahi Medical College (RAMEC) Hospital has 40 beds and Bogura Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College (SHJMEC) Hospital has 10 beds ICU. Patients from other departments have been traveling long distances to these two districts to get services. Even there, the lucky ones have to cross a long queue to reach the ICU. The wait for many ends with death!

Those concerned say, ICU is also known as Intensive Care Unit or Intensive Therapy Unit or Intensive Treatment Unit (ITU) or Critical Care Unit (CCU). It is a specialty in emergency healthcare. This service is very important in saving lives of dementia patients. But the health department is struggling to provide general services. Every hospital has various shortages including doctors, nurses, equipment for general services. They have virtually no capacity to manage the ICU there.

Victims say that the residents of Chapainawabganj, Natore, Joypurhat, Naogaon, Sirajganj, Pabna districts rushed to Ramek and Shajimek hospitals after crossing hundreds of kilometers for the ICU. But there are also many sufferings. There must be people to recommend. Many times read long serials. Every moment of waiting for a patient in ICE to die or recover and a bed becomes free is a dehumanizing anecdote. Where doctors, nurses, patient's relatives and other related services are in the role of audience.

Those concerned say that a large proportion of patients treated in the ICU die. Because they don't get ICU services at the right time. It was too late to reach the ICU gate after passing everything. There is no doubt that those who return home after receiving care from the ICU are very lucky. Images of people dying due to the ICU crisis in the pandemic situation have also been published in the media. Even though the scene observed especially during the corona situation is inhumane, common people are angry because there is no major change in the number of ICUs.

What hospital chiefs say:

Joypurhat has a 250-bed general hospital but no ICU facility. Hospital supervisor Dr. Sardar Rashed Mubarak said that the hospital has an ICU with 10 beds. But it was not inaugurated due to lack of manpower. Even writing to the government several times for manpower did not work.

Sirajganj also has 250 bedded General Hospital and Shaheed M Mansoor Ali Medical College Hospital. But none of them have an ICU. Resident Medical Officer (RMO) of 250-bed hospital. Faridul Islam said that the work of expanding one of their buildings to set up an ICU is going on. A 10-bed ICU is expected to be built in the expanded building by next December.

Shahid M. Mansoor Ali Medical College Hospital Director Dr. Md. Jahangir Alam said that even though they have a 10-bed ICU, it cannot be started due to lack of manpower and some machinery.

RMO in charge of Nato Modern Sadar Hospital Dr. Saurabh Ali Samrat said, they do not have an ICU. However, the 250-bed hospital under construction is supposed to have an ICU.

Resident Medical Officer (Additional RMO) of 250 bed Naogaon General Hospital Dr. Abu Anshar Ali said that the Health Department had approved the opening of 2 specialized ICU beds in 2021 during the Corona period. But apart from two ICU beds, none of the necessary equipment was provided. Repeated calls did not get a response.

Dr. Chapainawabganj district civil surgeon. SM Mahmudur Rashid said that the infrastructure has been built to start the ICU system in Chapainawabganj 250 bed district hospital. But it could not be started due to shortage of machinery and manpower.

Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College (SHJMEC) Hospital has 10 ICU beds, said Deputy Director of SHJMEC Hospital, Abdul Wadud. He said, more ICU beds are required for the hospital.

Rajshahi Medical College Hospital spokesperson Dr. Shankar told Biswas that the hospital has 40 ICU beds. Beds are never empty.

Rajshahi Divisional Health Director Dr. Anwarul Kabir said, we are trying our best to serve with what we have. Hopefully, this crisis will end in the near future.

No such thing a woman can give to her husband

Director General of the Department of Health Professor Dr. Md. A call to Abu Zafar's mobile phone was found to be disconnected. Because of this it was not possible to speak.