Staff Reporter :
Dozens of medical staff at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) have confirmed coronavirus positive amid rising spread of the virus among medics across the country.
Mir Jamaluddin, Director of the institute, confirmed that a total of 29 hospital staff had been infected and identified with corona positive, including eight doctors and seven nurses.
One of the eight general wards of the only government-run specialized cardiology hospital in Bangladesh has been locked down, said an assistant professor-level physician who did not want to be named.
A nurse was admitted to the hospital since her condition was critical, while another doctor’s condition is deteriorating and he will be admitted to the hospital, according to the Institute of Cardiology.The rest are being treated at home.
Three weeks ago, a patient came to the NICVD with a heart problem. He was also admitted. Later he was diagnosed with Covid-19 positive. It is now being seen that one after another medical staff of the hospital is being identified as Covid-19 positive, all of whom have come in contact with the patient in one way or another.
Director Mir Jamaluddin said 29 medical workers were infected because of that patient.
However, a senior doctor, who did not want to be named, said that in addition to the 15 doctors and nurses, a wardmaster, a few wardboys and other staff including security guards were among the victims.
All of them came in contact with the patient, who was later identified through contact tracing.
A doctor of the National Heart Institute, who did not want to be named, said that even 10 days ago, the hospital authorities were not providing them with any protective equipment like PPE.
Authorities have started supplying PPE to doctors and nurses since the infection was detected ten days ago.
But they are not enough and even though they are usable once, they are being used more than once after disinfection, said the doctor.
They have started collecting PPE at personal expense and under their own management.
However, Director Mir Jamaluddin rejected the charge of not providing adequate safety equipment.
He said, “We have been giving PPE from the very beginning. We are giving 250 to 300 PPE every day.”
So far, about 440 doctors have been infected coronavirus in Bangladesh.
