Tangail General Hospital has finally inaugurated its 10-bed intensive care unit (ICU) ward for Covid-19 patients almost a year after the pandemic began.
Tangail-5 MP Md Sanowar Hossain inaugurated the ward by cutting a ribbon on Sunday afternoon.
Earlier on April 21, Dhaka Tribune ran a story on the unavailability of ICUs along with other necessary medical facilities at the Tangail hospital.
After the inauguration, MP Sanowar Hossain said the much-anticipated Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the hospital will be maintained using skilled doctors and nurses. At the same time, a central oxygen delivery system also been installed at the hospital.
The 250-bed Tangail General Hospital is the district's largest medical centre and serves nearly 4 million people.
"Now, people will be relieved from the hassle of transporting critical patients to Dhaka for ICU facilities. Currently, ICU support has become very important for coronavirus patients. All kinds of ICU facilities will be available at the hospital," he added.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by, among others, Tangail Deputy Commissioner Ataul Gani, Sheikh Hasina Medical College Principal Dr Nurul Amin Mia, Civil Surgeon Abul Fazal Mohammad Shahabuddin, Tangail Municipality Mayor SM Sirajul Haque Alamgir, Sadar Upazila Parishad Chairman Shahjahan Ansari, Tangail General Hospital Assistant Director Dr Khandaker Sadiqur Rahman, RMO of the hospital Shafiqul Islam Sajib, and Tangail Press Club President Zafar Ahmed.
Tangail-5 MP Md Sanowar Hossain inaugurates the 10-bed intensive care unit (ICU) ward at Tangail General Hospital on Sunday | Dhaka Tribune
Professionals from different sectors were present at the inauguration.
Following the coronavirus outbreak, the prime minister announced in parliament on April 18, 2020, that her government will take steps to set up ICUs at every district hospital.
However, despite over a year having passed since the arrival of the pandemic, the hospital previously lacked treatment facilities to accommodate Covid-19 patients.
According to the Civil Surgeon's Office, the total number of people infected with Covid-19 in the district now stands at 4,698. Till now, 72 people have died from the deadly virus.
Meanwhile, 4,033 patients in the district have recovered and 311 are currently hospitalised.