KAMALGANJ, MOULVIBAZAR, Oct 4: In the absence of alternative electricity supply system, treatment service is seriously hampered in Kamalganj Upazila Health Complex in the district.
Load-shedding has been causing immense sufferings to patients, guardians, nurses, doctors and all staffs in the hospital.
During this time of season, the hospital is facing increasing number of patients.
In March, 2018, the hospital was promoted to 50-bed from 30-bed one. But necessary doctors were not posted for the extended capacity of the hospital.
Sub-assistant medical officers are playing the role of healthcare and pharmacists.
Due to the doctor crisis, poor patients are suffering seriously.
According to sources at the Upazila Health and Family Planning office-Kamalganj, a modern generator of 40kv was allocated to the hospital in 2018; but the hospital authorities could not launch the generatort as they could not purchase fuel due to lack of money.
It needs 6-7 litre fuel per hour to run the generator, hospital sources said.
Earlier, IPS would be used as the alterntive system. But few days back, the IPS developed weakness. Now it cannot be used.
In the wake of electricity outage, nurses, doctors and patients remain in risk of darkness.
A recent visit found some patients using kandle lights due to electricity outage; some poor patients were seen in darkness waiting for electricity; and nurses were carrying out their duty with torches.
While talking with this correspondent of The Daily Observer, locals said, as heating is mounting up, load-shedding is rising up; for the last three/four days, the load-shedding has been increasing abnormally; along with patients, doctors are also facing troubles; in treating excessive patients, they are becoming sick.
Patient Mofiz Mia was admitted to the Male Ward said, "When the electricity goes out at night, at that time, hospital looks a ghost den. It canot think that there is no alternative electrcity system in such a big hospital."
Ozifa Khatun, 65, guardian and mother of patient Sadek Mia of Noagaon Village at Madhabpur Union said, "If stays here, a healthy man will become sick. I have been staying with my son for five-six days. Electricity outage at night causes us immense sufferings. One night cat ate our food."
A woman patient admitted to the Women Ward Popi Aktar Doli, 45, of Kechuluti Village said, "In the absence of the alternative electricity system, the whole ward tuns dark due to electricity outage. Then we remain in concern of security."
Acting Residential Medical Officer Dr Sajedul Kabir said, "In the absence of alternative system of electricity supply, we have to face problems."
Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Mahbubul Alam Bhuiyan said, due to lack of fuel, the allocated generator of the hospital cannot be operated; also due to weakness, the alternative IPS is not working; for a long time, patients have been arranging light at their initiatives; hospital is an important place, with different vaccines; electricity outage damages such vaccines.
Electricity is transmitted to Kamalganj from Srimangal and Kulaura, he added.
He further said, if there is separate line of electricity in the hospital, there will be no electricity deficit.
"For several times, we informed this to the power department. But they are not heeding at all," the official complained.
