33 children die in 11 days waiting for ICU

There have been allegations of child deaths one after another due to the ICU crisis at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH). From March 11 to 22, 33 children waiting for ICU died. And in the last two and a half months, this number has risen to 53.

Hospital sources and patient relatives allege that the lack of timely ICU facilities is one of the reasons for these deaths.

Nuh Alam, a small businessman from Muraripur area of ​​Poba upazila, has been in RMCH's children's ward for two weeks with his sick child. Even though the child suffering from pneumonia has increased breathing difficulties, he has to wait as there are no vacant beds in the ICU. He is spending his days in uncertainty about when his serial number - 27 - will become vacant.

Hospital authorities said that patients are usually admitted to the 12-bed ICU designated for children for a long time. As a result, beds are not easily vacated. It is possible to take new patients only if a patient dies.

RMCH's ICU in-charge Dr. Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal said that 53 children have died in the last two and a half months without getting an ICU while on the waiting list. 28 children have died between March 11 and 18 alone. 9 more children have died even after being admitted to the ICU.

According to doctors, the incidence of pneumonia and measles has increased among children. Due to the lack of vaccination, measles is spreading more, which is increasing the risk of child mortality.

Rajshahi Divisional Director of the Directorate General of Health Services Dr. Habibur Rahman said that the number of children infected with measles has increased. The vaccination program will be strengthened soon to deal with this situation.

On the spot, it can be seen that the children's ward is extremely crowded - multiple patients in one bed, in many cases treatment is also being done on the floor. Waiting for oxygen, anxiety of relatives - all together, a suppressed panic prevails throughout the ward.

According to hospital sources, a large 60-bed ICU complex has been built at Ramech, but it has not yet been fully operational. Of these, 20 beds are for children, but they cannot be used due to lack of necessary manpower and equipment.

Ramech Director Brigadier General P K M Masud-ul Islam said that the ICU that is currently operational is also not approved by the government and is being run under the hospital's own management.

On the other hand, the 200-bed Children's Hospital built in Lakshmipur area of ​​Rajshahi city also has ICU facilities, but it has not yet been operational.

According to doctors, despite the infrastructure, this crisis is becoming apparent due to the lack of proper management, manpower and quick decisions. As a result, deaths in children's wards and the lamentations of relatives are increasing every day—a reflection of the deep crisis in the country's health system.