It’s shocking that 13 patients died at two hospitals in Bogura alone on Friday because of shortage of high-flow oxygen support provided through a device called nasal cannula. According to media reports, of the dead, seven died at Covid-dedicated Mohammad Ali Hospital and the six others at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital (SZMCH). Indeed, the crisis of high-flow oxygen has turned grave at many hospitals across the country.
Health experts have alleged that this reflects gross negligence and failure on the part of the Health Ministry. It must be specified whether the Directorate General of Health Services or the Department of Health Engineering is responsible for the crisis in oxygen supply. Unless it is specified where the problem lies – this will not be resolved. They went on to say that in cities if patients do not get oxygen in one hospital, they can move to another. But the people in the villages do not have such facilities at the Upazila health complexes.
Families of the deceased in Bogura alleged that their patients died due to the shortage of high flow nasal cannulas. We also came to know that another 20 to 25 patients undergoing treatment in these two hospitals are critical. Admitting the fact, the Superintendent of Mohammad Ali Hospital said at least ten corona patients are battling for their lives as the hospital has only two high-flow nasal cannula devices. At SZMCH, there are 12 high-flow nasal cannulas where 102 Covid patients were receiving treatment as of Friday, said the deputy director of the hospital. A day before, five Covid patients lost their lives at Satkhira Medical College Hospital following disruption of oxygen supply.
Inquiries after the deaths of coronavirus patients in Bogura on Friday revealed that there were discrepancies in the information provided by the Directorate General of Health Services regarding nasal cannulas. According to DGHS, there are 1,690 high flow nasal cannulas for coronavirus patients all over the country. But inquiries revealed that there are not as many high flow nasal cannulas as shown in the hospital-wise figures by the directorate. Even many hospitals designated to treat coronavirus cases, do not have even a single high flow nasal cannula.
At least horrid death for shortage of oxygen is unbearable. Health Ministry has proved incompetent and unmindful. But the bureaucrats who run the ministries are undisturbed. They are the government so who will punish them. We have a government without accountability and without competence. But they no need to change or punish anybody for their worthlessness.
