New and expectant mothers are not finding a healthy environment at the gynae ward of the Modern Sadar Hospital in Habiganj.
The labour ward reeks of bad odour, making it difficult for them to live there with newborns. Besides, bathroom and toilets have not been repaired for so long. They too are not cleaned regularly.
Accommodation problem is very much high as the ward remains fraught with patients around three times its capacity every day.
Ruma Roy, 26, who hails from Chunarughat upazila’s Birampur village, said she had been lying on the floor since she was admitted there on Wednesday.
She said she had not got any food from the hospital while the authorities are supposed to give food to each and every inpatient three times a day.
Talking about the hospital toilets, she said: “I do not feel like using them because I am afraid of somebody opening it while I am inside. And so I have to take somebody to guard the toilet door.”
Kamrunnessa, 30, who hails from Bahubal upazila’s Kandi village, said she has been lying on the floor of the ward due to bed crisis for three days. What is worse, even pure drinking water is not available inside the hospital.
Kulsuma, 25, who hails from Baniachang upazila’s Noagaon village, said she has not seen more than one doctor for three days since she was admitted to the hospital.
Khush Banu, 30, who hails from the upazila’s Prothomrekh village, said she has got a bed two days after getting admitted there. However, she was not happy with it since she felt like leaving the ward as soon as it was possible.
“The ward reeks of filthy odour. The wall looks so dirty as if it were a cowshed. Besides, one has to go out for pure drinking water. It is tough to fetch water from outside without being accompanied by a male person.”
Mamata Paal, who is in charge of the ward, said 60 to 70 patients remain admitted to the ward every day while it has the capacity of 25 patients. They all are taken care of by four nurses round the clock.
She added that a nurse can take care of up to five patients every day but they have to attend huge number of patients every day and so the nursing service could not be much better as the patients expect of them.
Residential Medical Officer Dr Mohsin Karim said there are 23 beds and two more in excess at the gynecological ward while 60 to 70 patients are admitted here every day.
There needs a senior gaynae consultant and two junior gynae consultants to take proper medical care of them. But there is no such consultant and so two junior gynae consultants are made to work here on hire.
About keeping clean the ward, he said there are only two ayas (medical assistants) and a sweeper for the hospital and so it is always tough to keep it clean.
