Over 2,000 patients admitted in 39 wards of Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) suffered immensely for the last four days as electricity remained suspended for the time frame.
The 60-year-old electric transformer of the hospital went out of order on Thursday afternoon. The supply of electricity resumed yesterday at 5:30pm after the old transformer was replaced with a new 2000kVA transformer, CMCH Director Khondakar Shahidul Ghani told the Dhaka Tribune.
The patients’ troubles doubled as the power failure resulted in the dearth of water supply as well.
A number of patients and their attendants complained that amid the humid weather, patients’ condition deteriorated. Moreover, they had to purchase water from outside which added to their expenses during their stay at the hospital.
During a visit yesterday, doctors and nurses were found using their mobile phone’s flash lights and charger lights while providing treatment. The patients and the attendants used hand fans to keep themselves cool during the power outage.
Most of the regular activities of the doctors and their interns came to a halt following the power failure, admitted the director of the 1,313-bed hospital.
However, sources at the Public Works Department said they made special arrangements to meet emergency demands at the hospital until the new transformer was installed. Power sources from nearby areas and the college building aided to ease the perplexed situation.
