Dengue, measles patients crowd Galachipa hospital

GALACHIPA, PATUAKHALI, Sept 25: An outbreak of measles and dengue has worsened in Galachipa, with the local health complex struggling to accommodate a growing number of patients.

The 50-bed Galachipa Upazila Health Complex is currently treating 148 patients, nearly three times its capacity, raising concerns over the spread of infections inside the overcrowded wards.

Patients with measles and dengue are being treated in adjacent beds as the hospital has been unable to keep separate rooms or beds for patients with infectious diseases and those suffering from other illnesses.

According to the health complex, 54 measles patients and 103 dengue patients were admitted there between September 1 and 23.
As of Wednesday, 21 measles patients and nine dengue patients were undergoing treatment at the facility.

Due to the overcrowding, many patients are being treated on the floor or in corridors, while maintaining separate arrangements for different categories of patients has become difficult, hospital officials said.

Salma Begum of Char Bangla Village in Charbishwas Union said her daughter Saramoni was admitted to the hospital four days ago after being diagnosed with measles.

“But a dengue patient is occupying the bed next to my daughter. I am worried about my child having to receive treatment alongside a dengue patient,” she said.

Ebadul Mia of Borochatra Village in Dakua Union, who is being treated for dengue in the bed next to Saramoni, said he had been at the hospital for three days.

“There are measles patients around me. I have asked the nurses several times for a mosquito net, but I have not received one.

I also feel uncomfortable staying beside children with measles, but I have to stay here for treatment,” he said.

Dr Md Mesbah Uddin, Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer, said the facility was treating nearly three times as many patients as its capacity on a regular basis.

“We have to deal with this situation every day,” he said.

The hospital had arranged five separate beds for measles patients, he said, but the pressure of additional patients had made it difficult to maintain the arrangement.

“Despite the pressure, we are continuing to provide services as much as possible,” he added.