ACs, fans out of order for months at RMCH burn unit

The Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit at Rangpur Medical College Hospital (RMCH) has turned into an inferno for the patients as all the air-conditioners (ACs) and ceiling fans are out of order. The last of the eight air-conditioners at the burn ward stopped working on June 5 while all the fans at the patient’s section have remained dysfunctional for over two months. The burn ward was constructed air-sealed because it contains sophisticated medical equipment More importantly, germ protection and adequate cooling of the ward is a high priority in the treatment of burn injuries. Salam, a patient from Ghoraghat upazila of Dinajpur district, was admitted at the ward with 50% burn injury 15 days ago. Salam is suffering immensely as his wounds are burning more, rather than showing any sign of healing, complained his wife Mariam. “Even the doctors admit the wounds would not have hurt like this if the ACs were running,” said Mariam. Eight-year-old Sadek with 55% burn injury was struggling in pain at his bed. His wounds were releasing exudate and the nurses had said the wound areas have become infected, said the child’s mother Mamata Begum. “How can a boy with such burn injury tolerate the summer heat with no AC or fan working at the ward when even the patient’s attendants are finding it difficult to stay there?,” she questioned. A nurse, preferring not to be named, told the Dhaka Tribune that cooling of the ward is an integral part of burn treatments. As the ACs and fans at the ward were out of service, some attendants are trying to soothe the patients by waving hand fans, but that does not work to heal the serious injuries, added the nurse. A ward boy, who also preferred anonymity, informed that seven patients died of burn injuries over the last one month. However, Burn and Plastic Surgery Department Registrar Dr Azmal Hossain said the information was not correct. He also admitted the patients are suffering because all the eight AC s at the ward have been out of service. The problem had already been conveyed to the hospital’s director, said Dr Azmal. RMCH Director Dr Maswood Hossain said he had been appointed there only one month ago and trying to identify and solve the problems as soon as possible.