Thursday, 19 September, 2024
It was noon at the Feni General Hospital’s delivery ward on the first floor of the old building. Puja Rani Das was undergoing surgery, with a nurse holding a candle in one hand and assisting with the natural delivery. In this dim light, the mother gave birth to her child.
Puja, from Sahadebpur, became a mother amid one of Feni's worst floods in recent memory.
The district is submerged, homes are inundated, and people are fleeing for safety.
With no electricity and disrupted mobile networks, many cannot contact their loved ones.
For the past seven days, deliveries and surgical sutures have been conducted under candlelight or mobile torchlight at Feni General Hospital, according to a nurse at the facility.
After Puja was transferred to the general ward, it was revealed that her husband and relatives had purchased all the necessary delivery supplies from outside. They received no assistance from the hospital.
During a visit to the district’s largest hospital on Tuesday, it was evident that there was a severe shortage of water and medicine.
Diarrhoea patients were being treated on the floor of the old building’s first floor.
Due to insufficient treatment, many patients were forced to leave.
In the delivery ward, Bibi Hajira, from Kazirbagh Gillabari, shared her ordeal.
Admitted on Aug 21, her dilation and curettage, or DNC, procedure had yet to be done due to the power outage. The nurses were unable to provide a clear timeline for when it would be performed.
Rokhsana Akter, another expectant mother, sat by the door in the same ward.
She was admitted on Monday evening, but the stifling heat and foul odour in the labour ward, exacerbated by the lack of electricity, made her stay unbearable.
Despite being in the hospital for two days, no food was provided by the hospital.
Senior staff nurse Nurjahan Begum said: “There has been no electricity in the hospital since the night of Aug 21. While other wards had power restored on Tuesday, the labour ward remains without electricity.
“For the past seven days, we have been delivering babies and stitching under candlelight or mobile torchlight. There isn't even enough water to wash our hands after deliveries, yet we continue to provide care.”
Another senior nurse, Selina Akter, said: “The autoclave machine isn’t working due to the lack of power. Over the past seven days, we’ve had to urgently transfer two Caesarean patients to flood-dedicated hospitals Al Aqsa and Feni Diabetes and Mission Hospital for free surgery.”
Senior nurse Marjina Akter recounted how the floodwaters inundated the hospital on the night of Aug 21. The next morning, despite waist-deep water, the military personnel on the road refused to provide transport assistance.
She said: “We had no one to help us. We’ve been wading through water daily to fulfil our duties at the hospital. Despite the flood, we’ve successfully delivered 28 babies in the labour ward over the past six days.”
The diarrhoea ward, too, was in dire straits. Floodwaters submerged the ward on 21 August, forcing the evacuation of 23 patients to the old building’s second-floor corridor. The flood damaged all beds and equipment, and it could take at least a week to restore the ward to its original state.
Ten-month-old Srabon Debnath, suffering from diarrhoea, was being treated on the first-floor corridor.
His mother, Mita Debnath, said: “We were admitted on Monday night, but without a bed, we are receiving treatment on the floor. A doctor came for just one minute on Tuesday morning, wrote a prescription, and left. We haven't received any saline or medicine from the hospital; everything had to be bought from outside.”
The paediatric ward presented a similar picture, with patients receiving treatment on both beds and the floor.
Afifa Rahman, just two and a half months old, was admitted with fever and vomiting.
Anisul Haque, a relative from the city, said: “A doctor visited the patient on Sunday, but no doctor came on Monday. Even on Tuesday morning, a doctor arrived but did not thoroughly examine the patient.”
Another parent, teacher Mostafizur Rahman, said: “The pathology department is closed due to the flood, so no tests are available. The condition of the ward's bathroom is appalling. With no cleaning done because of the flood, any healthy person using it would fall ill.”
Floodwater had entered the ground floor, forcing the dialysis ward to relocate all machines to the first-floor balcony on the night of Aug 21.
Despite four days of flooding in the emergency ward, services continued in a makeshift area adjacent to the doctors’ chamber on the first floor.
Patient Nahida Akter, who was leaving the hospital on a van, said she had been admitted on Aug 20 with her newborn suffering from jaundice.
Despite being admitted, a doctor only briefly saw her child the next morning and prescribed medicine.
She said: “After that, we received no further medical attention or care. A week later, another doctor finally discharged us this morning, and we’re now returning home to our village.”
When approached for comment, Hospital Superintendent Abul Khair Miah’s office was found locked. A peon outside the office said ‘sir has a fever and has not come to the office’.”
It was later learnt that Khair Miah was resting in an adjacent room (Room 605), receiving medical attention, while other doctors visited him there.
Resident Medical Officer Asif Iqbal told bdnews24.com: “Despite the ground floor being flooded, the hospital’s services have never stopped, not even for a minute. The emergency department has remained open 24/7. On Monday alone, doctors treated 227 patients, admitting 115 of them.
“There is a shortage of drinking water in the hospital, but work is underway to restore power to the labour ward quickly. We are making arrangements to resume ultrasound and pathology services as well, which were disrupted by the flood.”
Asif said to ensure uninterrupted service during the flood, six doctors from the general hospital had been temporarily transferred to flood-dedicated hospitals.
However, with the waters receding, those doctors were recalled to the general hospital on Tuesday.
He also said relief materials received from various organisations were being distributed among patients.
Asif said: “We have regularly crossed the floodwaters to reach the hospital. Despite requesting transport assistance from the army, there was no response.
“Even when two bodies were found floating in the floodwaters, they were received and kept in the morgue. If anyone still says we’re not working, then what more can we do?” he asked.
SURGE IN SNAKEBITE CASES AT FENI GENERAL HOSPITAL
Since Aug 21, Feni General Hospital has seen a sharp increase in snakebite cases, with 55 patients, including 42 men and 13 women, receiving treatment during this period.
On Tuesday afternoon, Shaukat Akbar, a snakebite victim from Mirganj village in Lemua Union, arrived at the emergency department. After a long wait, he finally received treatment.
Senior nurse Suchita Rani Banik said: “The floodwaters have led to an increase in snakebite cases. On average, seven to eight snakebite victims are being treated in the emergency department daily.
“Not all patients require antivenom, but those who do are being administered the necessary injections. The hospital has an adequate stock of antivenom,” she added.
Courtesy: bdnews24.com
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It was noon at the Feni General Hospital’s delivery ward on the first floor of the old building. Puja Rani Das was undergoing surgery, with a nurse holding a candle in one hand and assisting with the natural delivery. In this dim light, the mother gave birth to her child.
Puja, from Sahadebpur, became a mother amid one of Feni's worst floods in recent memory.
The district is submerged, homes are inundated, and people are fleeing for safety.
With no electricity and disrupted mobile networks, many cannot contact their loved ones.
For the past seven days, deliveries and surgical sutures have been conducted under candlelight or mobile torchlight at Feni General Hospital, according to a nurse at the facility.
After Puja was transferred to the general ward, it was revealed that her husband and relatives had purchased all the necessary delivery supplies from outside. They received no assistance from the hospital.
During a visit to the district’s largest hospital on Tuesday, it was evident that there was a severe shortage of water and medicine.
Diarrhoea patients were being treated on the floor of the old building’s first floor.
Due to insufficient treatment, many patients were forced to leave.
In the delivery ward, Bibi Hajira, from Kazirbagh Gillabari, shared her ordeal.
Admitted on Aug 21, her dilation and curettage, or DNC, procedure had yet to be done due to the power outage. The nurses were unable to provide a clear timeline for when it would be performed.
Rokhsana Akter, another expectant mother, sat by the door in the same ward.
She was admitted on Monday evening, but the stifling heat and foul odour in the labour ward, exacerbated by the lack of electricity, made her stay unbearable.
Despite being in the hospital for two days, no food was provided by the hospital.
Senior staff nurse Nurjahan Begum said: “There has been no electricity in the hospital since the night of Aug 21. While other wards had power restored on Tuesday, the labour ward remains without electricity.
“For the past seven days, we have been delivering babies and stitching under candlelight or mobile torchlight. There isn't even enough water to wash our hands after deliveries, yet we continue to provide care.”
Another senior nurse, Selina Akter, said: “The autoclave machine isn’t working due to the lack of power. Over the past seven days, we’ve had to urgently transfer two Caesarean patients to flood-dedicated hospitals Al Aqsa and Feni Diabetes and Mission Hospital for free surgery.”
Senior nurse Marjina Akter recounted how the floodwaters inundated the hospital on the night of Aug 21. The next morning, despite waist-deep water, the military personnel on the road refused to provide transport assistance.
She said: “We had no one to help us. We’ve been wading through water daily to fulfil our duties at the hospital. Despite the flood, we’ve successfully delivered 28 babies in the labour ward over the past six days.”
The diarrhoea ward, too, was in dire straits. Floodwaters submerged the ward on 21 August, forcing the evacuation of 23 patients to the old building’s second-floor corridor. The flood damaged all beds and equipment, and it could take at least a week to restore the ward to its original state.
Ten-month-old Srabon Debnath, suffering from diarrhoea, was being treated on the first-floor corridor.
His mother, Mita Debnath, said: “We were admitted on Monday night, but without a bed, we are receiving treatment on the floor. A doctor came for just one minute on Tuesday morning, wrote a prescription, and left. We haven't received any saline or medicine from the hospital; everything had to be bought from outside.”
The paediatric ward presented a similar picture, with patients receiving treatment on both beds and the floor.
Afifa Rahman, just two and a half months old, was admitted with fever and vomiting.
Anisul Haque, a relative from the city, said: “A doctor visited the patient on Sunday, but no doctor came on Monday. Even on Tuesday morning, a doctor arrived but did not thoroughly examine the patient.”
Another parent, teacher Mostafizur Rahman, said: “The pathology department is closed due to the flood, so no tests are available. The condition of the ward's bathroom is appalling. With no cleaning done because of the flood, any healthy person using it would fall ill.”
Floodwater had entered the ground floor, forcing the dialysis ward to relocate all machines to the first-floor balcony on the night of Aug 21.
Despite four days of flooding in the emergency ward, services continued in a makeshift area adjacent to the doctors’ chamber on the first floor.
Patient Nahida Akter, who was leaving the hospital on a van, said she had been admitted on Aug 20 with her newborn suffering from jaundice.
Despite being admitted, a doctor only briefly saw her child the next morning and prescribed medicine.
She said: “After that, we received no further medical attention or care. A week later, another doctor finally discharged us this morning, and we’re now returning home to our village.”
When approached for comment, Hospital Superintendent Abul Khair Miah’s office was found locked. A peon outside the office said ‘sir has a fever and has not come to the office’.”
It was later learnt that Khair Miah was resting in an adjacent room (Room 605), receiving medical attention, while other doctors visited him there.
Resident Medical Officer Asif Iqbal told bdnews24.com: “Despite the ground floor being flooded, the hospital’s services have never stopped, not even for a minute. The emergency department has remained open 24/7. On Monday alone, doctors treated 227 patients, admitting 115 of them.
“There is a shortage of drinking water in the hospital, but work is underway to restore power to the labour ward quickly. We are making arrangements to resume ultrasound and pathology services as well, which were disrupted by the flood.”
Asif said to ensure uninterrupted service during the flood, six doctors from the general hospital had been temporarily transferred to flood-dedicated hospitals.
However, with the waters receding, those doctors were recalled to the general hospital on Tuesday.
He also said relief materials received from various organisations were being distributed among patients.
Asif said: “We have regularly crossed the floodwaters to reach the hospital. Despite requesting transport assistance from the army, there was no response.
“Even when two bodies were found floating in the floodwaters, they were received and kept in the morgue. If anyone still says we’re not working, then what more can we do?” he asked.
SURGE IN SNAKEBITE CASES AT FENI GENERAL HOSPITAL
Since Aug 21, Feni General Hospital has seen a sharp increase in snakebite cases, with 55 patients, including 42 men and 13 women, receiving treatment during this period.
On Tuesday afternoon, Shaukat Akbar, a snakebite victim from Mirganj village in Lemua Union, arrived at the emergency department. After a long wait, he finally received treatment.
Senior nurse Suchita Rani Banik said: “The floodwaters have led to an increase in snakebite cases. On average, seven to eight snakebite victims are being treated in the emergency department daily.
“Not all patients require antivenom, but those who do are being administered the necessary injections. The hospital has an adequate stock of antivenom,” she added.
Courtesy: bdnews24.com
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