Patients at the cardiology department of Rangpur Medical College Hospital, the only specialized medical facility in the Northern region of the country, are suffering due to the presence of cockroaches in the ward and cabins.
There are cockroaches everywhere, including the coronary care unit (CCU).
Patients who come for treatment become disoriented by the flying cockroaches. At the same time, the toilets at the hospital are unusable due to a lack of maintenance. There is also a risk of catching mosquito-borne diseases. Patients are leaving the facility without taking treatment due to these reasons. They allege that the authorities have not taken any measures to reduce the suffering of the patients.
There are currently over two hundred patients in the cardiac ward of the hospital. The patients complained, saying they were not finding any peace even at night as there were bedbugs in the pillows and mattresses. Cockroaches have built nests in all the corners and pillars of the ward.
At night, these cockroaches roam freely throughout the ward and are often felt over the bodies of cardiac patients. There is no respite from this horrific experience, as the authorities are not responding to repetitive complaints in this regard. Meanwhile, the sudden rise in the number of mosquitoes has added to the woes of these patients. As a result, many are leaving the hospital without completing their treatment in fear of catching more insects and mosquito-borne diseases.
This reporter visited the cardiology department of the hospital, where patients said that there were cockroaches in the CCU. Insects were seen roaming freely on the bodies of bedridden patients.
What patients and their relatives say
Babu came to the hospital with his father from Nageshwari of Kurigram. He said his father had been unconscious for over two days, and it was unbearable to see cockroaches and flies covering his face. Is it acceptable, he questioned.
Morshed, a student of Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur, said: “My father got seriously ill and was admitted to the cardiology department five days ago. It is unbearable here. Insects are moving around my father’s body and on the utensils. He could not even sleep at night. On the other hand, there are mosquitoes. Apart from this, the toilets are unusable.”
Mumtaz Begum, from the Station area of Rangpur, said that she could not sleep at night due to insects and mosquitoes. She pointed out the nests of cockroaches in various places, including on the walls. She said she was forced to go home before she fully recovered.
Monabbar Mia, an elderly man from Jaldhaka of Nilphamari, said that he has been in the cardiology department for 12 days and could not sleep at night due to the presence of insects. On the other hand, he tries not to use the toilet much due to its poor condition. The cleaners come every two or three days. “They do not consider us as humans,” he complained.
What do the authorities say
Dr Haripada Sarkar, associate professor and head of the cardiology department, admitted that the hygiene at the ward was not maintained properly. According to him, the toilets are breeding places for mosquitoes. He said the authorities are taking measures in this regard, and the hospital director has also been informed of the situation.
However, the hospital director, Dr Yunus Ali, blamed the patients.
He claimed that patients and their companions brought the bugs and cockroaches to the hospital. However, he added that the hospital authorities would take measures to improve the conditions of the toilets and the ward.
The director said the hospital sometimes undertakes cleaning drives. But he could not give a date for the next drive.
