Sylhet Bureau :
Oxygen Crisis disrupted Medical services in Sylhet. The routine operation of the largest MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital in Sylhet Division is also about to be stopped. There is also pressure on the oxygen support of corona patients.
Dr. Abul Kalam Azad, Assistant Director (Administrator) of Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital also admitted that they have problems with oxygen. The routine operation of the hospital is almost stopped. Lack of stocks is causing some problems in oxygen supply to the ICU. He said that the demand has increased more than the amount that is being carried in the oxygen line.
He said that all the ports are being used for oxygen, which is why the pressure of the line has also decreased. Osmani has an average daily demand of 5,000 liters of oxygen. However, this demand is not being met immediately. That is why their stocks are declining. To meet this, oxygen must be supplied every day. However, the supplier is supplying oxygen 1/2 day a week. That is why the crisis is happening.
“They have to worry about oxygen every moment,” he said, adding that Spectra and Linde were supplying oxygen to Osmani. “Circulation has slowed down and if for some reason it turns blue, the situation will be dire,” he said. He said the crisis could be alleviated if oxygen was provided to Osmani every day.
Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet M Kazi Emdadul Islam said, Oxygen supply in Sylhet was almost cut off due to lockdown and other reasons. According to demand, many times oxygen does not match. They are often terrified of this. Therefore, he emphasized on increasing the supply of oxygen.
Hazrat Ali, proprietor of BHD (Pvt.) Ltd. of Dakshin Surma, which is engaged in supplying oxygen to Sylhet, said that the demand for oxygen in Sylhet has increased almost 10 times as compared to the past. Earlier, his shop used to sell 10 large cylinders and 80-90 small cylinders per day. Now the demand for 500 small cylinders and 90-100 large cylinders has increased every day. He has to have a sore throat while delivering the cylinder. He said he had to collect cylinders from different places including Dhaka and market them in Sylhet.
Muhammad Dilwar Hossain, managing trustee of the Shed Trust, which supplies oxygen to Corona patients in Sylhet, said they paid Rs 1.5 lakh to an oxygen supplier for 10 oxygen cylinders last Tuesday night.
However, they were given 5 cylinders on Wednesday. By the way, he said, due to the increase in demand, the cylinders are not available in Sylhet even with advance payment.
Emdad Hossain Chowdhury, director of Sylhet Women’s Medical College Hospital, said the demand for oxygen cylinders in Sylhet has increased at a huge rate. They got only 4 out of the demand of last 11 cylinders on Wednesday.
And with the demand of 11 big oxygen cylinders for the last few days, only 4 cylinders were received on Wednesday.
The director of a private hospital in Sylhet said his hospital has the infrastructure to run 10 more ICUs. However, they do not have the courage to launch new ICU beds due to lack of adequate oxygen support.
Foreign Minister in a virtual meeting on Tuesday. AK Abdul Momen said Sylhet MAG Osmani Hospital has 30,000 liters and Shaheed Dr Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital has 10,000 liters of central oxygen plant. Admitting that there is some shortage of oxygen in Sylhet due to shortage of supply, he said that at the rate at which corona infection is increasing in Sylhet, oxygen is very much needed. Spectra and Linde are trying to fill this gap. We are doing our best to maintain the oxygen supply.
