The Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital, which has historically remained neglected, has recently grabbed a lot of media attention, allowing politicians to use it serve their political interests.
With the escalating political violence and the ever increasing number of arson attacks in recent times, the burn unit has been spending the busiest ever time with its limited resources since its inception in 2004.
The Dhaka Tribune has learnt that although nearly a decade has passed, the burn unit has never even been officially inaugurated. Neither has it been ever given a specific allocation for carrying its expenses.
Sources said the unit’s monthly expenditure – comprising salary of employees, drugs and food for patients – was around Tk10m, of which Tk500,000 is provided by the health ministry. The huge gap is financed from the DMCH’s fund.
At present, more than 300 patients are being treated at the 100-bed facility. To accommodate the massive overflow, patients are often laid on the floor of the balcony and sometimes additional beds are brought in from the other units of the hospital.
The Dhaka Tribune has also learnt that even though a number of new doctors and 40 new nurses have been recruited for the burn unit recently, it had not been given a single fourth class employee, including cleaners and sweepers.
Records show that since the first spell of the opposition’s countrywide blockades began last Tuesday, at least 120 victims of arson attacks have taken treatment at the burn unit.
Of them, 51 were admitted to the hospital while the others were released after primary treatment. Of the 51, nine have so far died, five were transferred to the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit, seven to the High Dependency Unit and 23 had been taking treatment in the general wards.
After the arson attack on a passenger bus in the capital’s Shahbagh on Thursday night, that left at least two dead and 17 burnt, ministers and political leaders have started thronging the burn unit.
Yesterday alone, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and four other ministers – including Health Minister Rowshan Ershad, Post and Telecommunications Minister Rashed Khan Menon, Communications Minister Obaidul Quader and Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan – visited the victims. Many high official of the government have also visited the facility.
Many of them have promised that the government would ensure the best possible treatment for the arson victims.
A number of high official of the hospital told the Dhaka Tribune that most of the victims were still not out of danger and so more visitors could raise the danger of infections.
A relative of a victim told the Dhaka Tribune that they were not happy to see the political leaders because the government was to be equally blamed for the arson attacks. He said the political leaders’ visit to the burn unit was nothing but political stunts.
Dr Samonta Lal Sen, chief coordinator of expanded burn unit project, told the Dhaka Tribune on Sunday that the unit was overcrowded by patients.
“There are more burn units in different medical college hospitals and institutes in different districts of the country, including Dhaka; but people prefer the DMCH. It has gained the confidence of the people. Now the government should take the next steps,” Dr Sen said.
The Suhrawardy Hospital and the Mitford Hospital in Dhaka have their own burn units too. But people tend to prefer the DMCH Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit.
On Saturday, an 11-member expert committee, headed by neuromedicine specialist Prof Dr Kazi Din Mohamad, has been formed to ensure the best possible healthcare for all the arson victims.
Reportedly, all expensive drugs are being given free of cost to the patients and additional doctors, nurses and supporting staff have been appointed to ensure smooth operations.