Over 100 children have died from cold-related diseases at Sher-E- Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH), in Barisal, in December 2018.
SBMCH Director Dr Baqir Hossain said the children died at the pediatric ward.
Observing that the situation was worsening, he said, on an average, about four to five infants—admitted to the hospital’s pediatric ward —died every day.
The director said the children had come to SBMCH from upazila-level hospitals and also different town and city clinics.
Jibon Krishna Dey, president of Khelaghar district, said there are no hospitals for children in Barishal division, so they demand one be established quickly.
Dr Faizul Haque Ponir, residential physician of the pediatric ward of SBMCH, said seven infants suffering from cold-related diseases—like pneumonia, asthma, and bronchitis— died on January 12.
Most of the child patients at the hospital were admitted at the last moment with severe breathing difficulties.
Dr Faizul Haque Ponir said last December, on average, around 200 infants received treatment outdoors; and 110 patients were admitted, per day, to the pediatric ward, even though it only has the capacity for 48 patients.
Rokeya Begum, who had been waiting in queue at SBMCH outdoors for two hours with her six-month old child, said her baby had been suffering from cold-related diseases for the last two days.
Another baby boy of the same age was brought to the hospital from Bakergonj Upazila Health Complex with the same problem.
The baby boy was suffering breathing complications, his mother, Nilufar Begum, told the Dhaka Tribune.
Hosneara, another mother from Baufal of Patuakhali, said she took her two year-old daughter to SBMCH on January 11 with serious breathing complications.
She said: “My baby was first admitted to local upazila health complex, but later we shifted her here as her condition deteriorated.”
The baby girl was seen occasionally wheezing under the oxygen mask placed over her mouth.
