Barisal Correspondnet :At least 66 patients died in Barisal Sher- e- Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH) , the biggest and only specialised health service providers in the southern region, during Eid holidays from July 01 to 08.Eid- holidays, unofficially started from June 30 as most of the employees started enjoying Eid-leave and situation expected to be normal at the end of this week.Authorities claimed this number of deaths during long holidays were less than regular period.After visiting Barisal SBMCH, it was learnt from the death and admission registers of the hospital that 7 died out of 1028 admitted indoor patients on 1st July, 8 died out of 1018 indoor patients on 2nd July, 11 died out of 872 indoor patients on 3rd July, 13 died out of 796 indoor patients on 4th July , 5 died out of 808 indoor patients on July 5th, 6 out of 843 indoor patients on July 6th, 12 out of 844 indoor patients died on July 7th and 4 out of 928 indoor patients died on July 8th in this hospital.Besides, 12 more patients died as victims of accidents and clashes soon after or before admitted in this hospital during this period. However, family members of these dead victims suffered much about autopsy for taking dead bodies as forensic department of the hospital was in vacation mode.Abul Kalam Azad, ward master of the hospital acknowledged the facts.It was learnt that at least 508 (70 percent) out of 724 doctors and nurses of Barisal Sher- e- Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH), the biggest and only specialized health service providers in the region, went on leave during Eid vacation.At least 154 out of 189 intern doctors, the main working forces of the hospital, 67 out of 92 registers, assistant registers, 4 out of 6 emergency, 15 out of 24 indoor and outdoor medical officers and 268 out of 413 staff nurses, of hospital started enjoyed the vacation. “Normally average 1200-1400 patients went under indoor treatments at this hospital per day. Most of the patients, except delivery, surgery and orthopedics wards left the hospital. So shortage of manpower had not much effect as patient pressure also reduced during Eid- vacation, SBMCH hospital sources informed.As the assigned manpower worked sincerely, so only 66 patients were died in this vacation, said S M Dr. Sirajul Islam, director SBMCH.In upazila level only 20 out of 122 doctors will perform duties in public health complex, hospital, clinics as others will enjoy leave during Eid vacation in 10 upazilas of Barisal district.The upazila level clinics and hospitals have made some special but very limited arrangements to offer health services and usually refer the critical patients to district and divisional level hospitals. No unusual death due to lack of medicare was reported this year during Eid vacation, acknowledged Dr. AMM Shafiuddin, district civil surgeon.Abdur Rahman, one of the attendants of an admitted patient alleged that no specialist was available to attend the patient first to last during vacation period.Absence of not only the physicians, but also the huge number of nurses, third and fourth class employees created sanitation problems side by side the health and medicare services in the hospital, the sufferer Shelly Begum, one the admitted patients alleged.
