Patients treated by candlelight at Sreemangal hospital amid power outage

Patients at the 50-bed Sreemangal Upazila Health Complex in Moulvibazar are facing serious difficulties as frequent power outages leave parts of the hospital without electricity, forcing doctors and health workers to treat patients by candlelight at night.

The situation was witnessed around 9pm on Wednesday (August 26), when the hospital’s emergency department and the medical officer’s room were plunged into darkness during a power outage. Doctors and health workers were seen using candles to examine and treat patients.

Dr Ayesha Siddika, the physician on duty at the emergency department, said they are left in darkness whenever the electricity goes out. She suggested contacting the higher authorities to find out why the hospital’s generator and IPS backup systems are not operational.

Several patients and attendants said power cuts were adding to their suffering. Patients staying on the second-floor ward, particularly those in the corridors, were also struggling with inadequate ventilation and a lack of fans.

Hospital sources said the facility had previously reported the theft of batteries from its IPS system. Although an investigation committee was formed over the incident, it remains unclear what action was taken following the inquiry.

Local residents expressed concern over the lack of even basic lighting at Sreemangal’s only government hospital, saying treating patients by candlelight in an emergency department poses a serious safety risk.

Attempts to contact Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Cynthia Tasnim for comment were unsuccessful as she did not answer calls.

Sreemangal Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Ziaur Rahman said the hospital was supposed to have both an IPS system and a generator.

“We will discuss with the upazila health and family planning officer why the backup systems are not operational and take steps to resolve the issue quickly,” he said.