A generator, allotted for the 50-bed Sakhipur Upazila Health Complex, has not been installed after seven years. Consequently, emergency operations have been hindered during load-shedding, and patients and doctors are facing many difficulties.
The health department allotted the 50kV generator for the hospital on July 5, 2008, hospital sources said. Yet, no operator has been appointed, and no funds are available to operate the generator.
Nearly 200 people come to the hospital to avail its outdoor services, and at least 45 to 55 people get admitted every day, the sources added.
Despite repeated requests to senior authorities, no steps have were taken to install the generator, said the sources. Minor operations are being carried out temporarily with a small generator.
During a recent visit, this correspondent found the generator lying haphazardly outside the storeroom, its cover rusty.
Nur Jahan, a senior staff nurse in charge of the OT (operation theatre), said: “We complete minor operations with a temporary backup IPS during load shedding. But for major operations, we face difficulties when there’s no electricity.”
Another senior staff nurse, Anjana Bala, said: “Patients are forced to suffer, though a powerful generator has long been lying uninstalled in the hospital.” She demanded the generator be installed before the next dry season.
SM Amirul Islam, a medical technologist (radiographer), said: “We cannot prepare X-rays of our patient during load-shedding. They need to get them done from other clinics.”
Dr DI Rezaul Karim, the upazila health and family planning officer, said: “There is no space to keep such a large generator, and no manpower to run it. We have requested the senior authorities to install the generator and provide us with the necessary manpower.”
Tangail civil surgeon, Dr Syed Ebne Sayeed, said: “Nearly 150 to 180 Caesarian operations are done at the hospital every month. Besides this, a large number of minor operations are also carried out. So, we have repeatedly requested the authorities concerned to immediately set up the generator.