Health workers of at least two hospitals in Dhaka on Saturday announced they would refrain from providing services amid growing concerns regarding the safety of healthcare professionals in the Covid-19 (coronavirus) outbreak.
Healthcare staff members are putting themselves at risk while trying to identify and treat those infected with coronavirus, but necessary equipment to ensure their own safety is yet to be provided, they claimed.
Medical intern doctors of Sir Salimullah Medical College (Mitford Hospital) Dental Unit, on Saturday decided to refrain from providing services after the hospital authorities issued a notice asking its doctors and staff to collect masks on their own to protect themselves from coronavirus.
In the notice, the hospital authorities also said they would be unable to provide masks due to a shortage of resources.
The notice, signed by the hospital’s Director, Brigadier General Morshed Rashid, went viral on social media.
The announcement of a shortage of masks by a government hospital exposed the sorry state of the government’s preparation for coronavirus detection and prevention. While top government ministers claim there is sufficient personal protective equipment for doctors and other healthcare providers, the announcement by Mitford Hospital suggests the opposite is true.
Contacted, hospital Director Morshed Rashid claimed the notice was issued on Thursday, but that there was no crisis as of Saturday.
“We need about 120-130 masks a day for healthcare staff, but no company is taking orders for the masks now. However, we now have enough stock and there will be no problems anymore,” he said.
20 put on compulsory leave, ask for quarantine following death of patient
Delta Hospital Ltd, where the latest coronavirus patient died on Saturday, has asked 20 of its staff to take 14 days compulsory leave.
“Four doctors, 12 nurses, and four supporting staff, who were on duty at the Intensive Care Unit where a patient died from coronavirus, have been put on compulsory leave [Saturday],” said an official asking not to be named.
The official said the ICU of the hospital has been closed since Saturday.
Dhaka Tribune approached hospital authorities for comment, but they declined to talk to the media.
Four doctors of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) are already in home quarantine on suspicion of being infected with Covid-19.
Earlier on March 19, intern doctors of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital went on strike for three and a half hours, demanding measures to ensure their safety.
In conversation with Dhaka Tribune, healthcare professionals said the lack of protective gear is now fuelling concerns for the safety of healthcare personnel in Bangladesh — where 24 coronavirus cases and two deaths have so far been confirmed.
Health workers say their fear of getting exposed is increasing as they do not have adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) — such as masks, gloves, and gowns — and infected patients could walk into the hospital at any moment.
In Narsingdi, most government hospitals do not have safety mechanisms for health care professionals.
Mizanur Rahman, doctor at the 100 bed Narsingdi District Hospital, said doctors at government hospitals are maintaining their safety using their own protection mechanisms.[1]
In Madaripur, doctors are serving patients in quarantine and isolation with high risk of contamination, said Madaripur Sadar Hospital Resident Medical Officer, Dr Akhil Sarker.
“The protection measures for doctors and nurses to treat coronavirus affected patients are minimal and inadequate. We have informed Dhaka of the matter,” he said.
“We can get infected by the virus anytime if proper protection measures are not maintained,” he added.
Doctors say they do not want to run from their duties, but they need adequate and, if possible, additional protective gear.
Media reports have been published with similar remarks from doctors and nurses at hospitals in various districts, including Chittagong, Jhenaidah, Rajshahi, Comilla, and Barisal.
Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Director, General Abul Kalam Azad, said: “We cannot supply the next three months worth of PPE to any hospitals right now. Once we are informed about the regular demand, we can send the PPE to the hospitals for 5-10 days in a lot. There is a crisis of protection mechanisms across the world, and this is how we shall proceed.”
The DG, however, also said they are in the process of bringing one million PPE, including masks and gloves, to ensure the safety of healthcare personnel around the country.
Our correspondents Monjur Hossain, Madaripur, and Asaduzzaman Ripon, Narsingdi, contributed to this report.
