Staff Reporter :
The novel coronavirus has become deadly for Bangladeshi doctors in terms of mortality rate as front-line healthcare workers have been forced to fight a dangerous battle here without any proper protection.
The virus has so far claimed the lives of 43 doctors, according to Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA).
Besides, Doctors Safety, Rights and Responsibility said six other physicians died with coronavirus symptoms.
“As coronavirus cases mounts in Bangladesh, the death of doctors from coronavirus has been reported almost every day over the past two weeks,” said BMA President Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin.
According to various organisations, coronavirus has claimed the lives of about 50 doctors, which is around four per cent of the nation’s total Covid-19 fatalities.
BMA president said 3,301 health workers, including 1,040 doctors, 901 nurses, and 1,360 technicians and others engaged in different activities at the hospitals were also infected during the same period.
But the number is much higher as per the data of other bodies of physicians, nurses and healthcare employees.
Commenting on the issue, former World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Advisor Muzaherul Huq said the rate of coronavirus infections among health workers is very high in Bangladesh compared to other countries He said nearly 4,000 health workers, including doctors, nurses and pathologists and technicians, have so far been infected.
Huq said around 50 doctors have died in the country from the virus over the last two months. Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital’s Assistant Professor Moyeen Uddin Ahmed was the first doctor who died of coronavirus on April 15.
“The coronavirus mortality rate in doctors in Bangladesh is around 4 per cent, the highest in the world,” he added.
Huq said the average standard mortality rate in doctors in the world is 2.5 per cent. “Italy witnessed the highest number of deaths of physicians, but the mortality rate of physicians in that country is also less than three per cent.”
He thinks the main reason behind the growing infections among health workers is that they are directly coming in contact with patients and their attendants without having proper protection.
“Even they do not have proper training to handle Covid-19 patients and use of protective gears,” he added.
Huq also mentioned that lack of quality PPEs was the main reason behind the infection of the doctors at the initial stage, but this problem has now been resolved to some extent.
“Doctors have been working long hours under serious pressure and suffering from distress and fatigue. “That’s why sometime they lose their mind and wrongly handle patients, causing the infection,” he added.
Former director (disease control) of DGHS Be-Nazir Ahmed said like many other countries, the front-line health care workers are also getting infected with the coronavirus here. But the number is very high in Bangladesh, leading to death of many doctors
“This situation has arisen due to lack of effective infection control practice at the hospitals and training,” he said, adding, ” Only a small number of doctors and nurses were given training through video conferencing which is not enough.”
Dr Be-Nazir also said that some doctors are still not taking adequate precautionary measures in dealing with patients. “Some are making mistakes under pressure while some are not properly maintaining health safety rules.”
The public health expert said all hospitals should ensure effective and quality infection control measures.
“Proper guidelines should be prepared for infection control and there should be a trained team at every hospital to monitor the infection control measures.”
“Chinese team members, who arrived here also told us that they’re not seeing infection control measures in Bangladesh’s hospitals and this is the main reason behind the high infection and death rate among the health workers,” he said.
Besides, sufficient logistic support should be ensured for the health workers.
“They should be given quality safety gears. Sufficient and separate washrooms, basins should be ensured for doctors and nurses with available soap and sanitiser. They should be given comfortable accommodation so that they can stay separately from their family members after performing their duties.”
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Vice-Chancellor Kanak Kanti Barua said majority of the doctors died so far are senior ones who have comorbidities.
He said most doctors are getting infected while dealing with patients who come to them hiding information about their symptoms.
“Many patients, along with their attendants, come to doctors without wearing masks. They also hide their infection. Even, many patients who come to BSMMU for tests visit my room without any reason. Sometimes patients show aggressiveness if they are barred. It’s a big problem,” he said.
He said many senior and retired doctors are getting infected as they are doing private practice. “All doctors, including the senior ones, should handle patient very carefully and take all precautionary measures.”
They also should know how to safely put on PPE and put it off and the masks, and dispose of them, the BSMMU VC added.
“We will face dire consequences if we can’t protect our doctors and health workers from the virus. The deaths of senior doctors are irreparable loss to the nation,” he observed.
Dr Kanak Kanti said all the hospitals should now take effective infection control measures to protect the doctors and other health workers. If they fail to do so it may cause more fatalities of doctors and thus will further strain the country’s medical facilities.
