Lying on the bed of the burn and plastic surgery unit of Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) with 30% burn injuries, Mohammad Selim Uddin, a truck helper from Chhotopul area in Chittagong city, has been passing the worst days of his life.
He sustained the burn injuries on December 13 when blockade supporters hurled petrol bombs at his vehicle at Mohipal area in Feni.
Liza Akhter, daughter of the victim, told the Dhaka Tribune that Selim is the lone earning member of the seven-member family, adding that the family had already spent Tk30,000 for his treatment.
In the same burn unit, Ali Akbar, a truck driver, has also been undergoing treatment for severe burn injuries since December 9, after being attacked by blockade supporters on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway at Boro Awlia area in Sitakunda upazila of the district.
His wife Nazma Begum said she had already spent Tk40,000 for Akbar’s treatment, adding that she had failed to shift her husband to Dhaka for better treatment because of financial restraints.
Family members of both the victims said they had not received any financial help from the government; however, some ruling party members visited the burn victims several times.
Like Selim and Akbar, at least seven blockade arson victims have been admitted to the hospital since November 26, while three of them had succumbed to their injuries, said sources in the CMCH burn unit.
The families of the victims alleged that they were not getting standard treatment at the hospital; but the doctors attributed it to the lacking of different facilities.
Misma Islam, a physician of the unit, said shortage of doctors, nurses, necessary equipments and medicines were causing hindrance in providing treatment and also in deteriorating the conditions of the burn victims.
“Three victims were sent to Dhaka because of the lack of treatment facilities; however, two of them died,” he said, adding that another blockade victim had died at the CMCH.
Only four doctors have been working in the unit, while there were seven nurses on deputation from other wards to provide for 49 patients at the 26-bed unit.
“A burn unit must be well-equipped, as treatment for burns is quite different,” said Dr Mrinal Kanti Das, head of the unit, adding that their unit did not even have an intensive care unit (ICU), an imperative for treating the burn victims.
He said the operation theatre was not also well-equipped and had no designated staff.
“We have to refer many of the patients to Dhaka. But the health conditions of few of them deteriorate on the way, while few others cannot go there because of financial insolvency,” said Dr Mrinal.
According to the CMCH sources, Ahsan Ullah, a truck driver who was being shifted to Dhaka as he required immediate ICU support, died on his way on Sunday.