The authorities of Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH) have plunged into a great trouble with the increasing number of burn patients who fell prey to recent arson attacks.
Hospital sources said sometimes they failed to render proper healthcare services to burn victims for lack of logistical supports. The burn unit was launched in the hospital on July 14 last year.
Chairman of RMCH Management Board Fazley Hossain Badsha, MP, opened the unit as the chief guest.
During the inauguration of the unit, the hospital authority said all expensive drugs would be provided free of cost to the patients, but now the scenario is quite different.
The burn victims have been going through a hardship at the burn unit because the number of causalities has gone beyond its capacity.
The accommodation capacity of the RMCH burn unit is now 24 while about 40 patients are staying there.
The authorities concerned said that they would face immense troubles if the seat capacity of the burn unit would not be extended and necessary logistical supports were not provided to physicians.
Of the total burn victims, at least eight people are the victims of petrol bomb attacks during the ongoing blockade enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance.
The doctors are struggling with increasing number of burn victims, said Dr Afroza Naznin, the chief doctor of the burn unit.
As the accommodation crisis is prevailing, patients have to tolerate huge afflictions to reside there, she further added.
Thirty percent of the body of Julekha Begum, 25, was burnt when some miscreants hurled petrol bombs at a bus at Tanore upazila on Friday.
Julekha said doctors told her that she was needed to be taken to Intensive Care Unit, but they could not arrange it for her for space shortage.
Kartik, 45, a resident of Puthia upazila, said he was yet to get any bed. He said: “I am compelled to stay on the floor. Twenty percent of his body was burnt down.
Ashraful Alam, a resident of Mohonpur upazila, echoed the same words.
Achia Khatun, an 8-month-old girl, is receiving treatment at the ICU. But her family members said the ICU was also suffering from lack of logistical support.
“The victims are given best treatment as per our capacity, despite the burn unit is running with a limited manpower and equipment,” said Brigadier General AKM Nasir Uddin, director of the RMCH. He also said the burn unit was needed an operation theatre.
“The burn unit also needs more intensive care units and few post-operation care rooms,” he said.
“We have already submitted our demands to the ministry concerened to provide necessary opportunities to the RMCH burn unit, Nasir added.
He also said they also sent a letter to ministry concerned with a demand to increase the number of bed from 24 to 50.
He expressed hoped that their demands would be fulfilled soon as it was must for smooth running of the burn unit.
