Seven corona patients died in 13 hours from 8 pm on Thursday to 9 am on Friday morning at Mohammad Ali Hospital in Bogra. These patients were suffering from acute respiratory distress. According to their relatives, these patients died due to oxygen supply device high flow nasal cannula-crisis.
Hospital Superintendent ATM Nuruzzaman also acknowledged the high flow nasal cannula-crisis. he yesterday Prothom-aloWho said, if someone complains that the patient died due to high flow nasal cannula crisis. There is no capacity to supply oxygen to more than two patients at a time by high flow nasal cannula. Bogra Deputy Commissioner Ziaul Haque also said in a notification that the shortage of high flow nasal cannulae has caused difficulties in the management of critically ill patients.
After investigating the death of a corona patient in Bogra, it is known that there is a difference between the reality and the information of the health department about high flow nasal cannula. According to the information of the department, there are 1,670 high flow nasal cannulas for corona patients across the country. However, it was found out yesterday in eight districts of the country that the information given about hospital-based high flow nasal cannula, in reality there are not that many cannulae.
Not only the high flow nasal cannula, but also the shortage of oxygen supply in some hospitals. Last Wednesday, there were allegations of death of five patients in Satkhira Medical College Hospital without getting enough oxygen. Two investigation committees have also been formed in this incident.
Respiratory system disease People suffering from corona virus cannot take oxygen normally as their lungs are damaged. A large proportion of these patients require artificial oxygen supply. A high flow nasal cannula is required to deliver high levels of oxygen. It can supply 60 to 70 liters of oxygen per minute. And with a non-rebreather (ordinary oxygen) mask it is possible to supply a maximum of 15 liters of oxygen per minute to a patient.
Seven people died in Bogra
Among the seven people who died in Bogra, one of them is Abdul Matin Chowdhury, a resident of Badshail village in Badalgachi upazila of Naogaon. He was infected with corona virus and was admitted to Corona specialized government Mohammad Ali Hospital in Bogra. He was suffering from acute respiratory distress since Thursday night. The oxygen level in his body drops to 70. High levels of oxygen were required but could not be given.
Matin Chowdhury, the retired headmaster of Badshail High School, died yesterday at 8:30 am. His son Mostak Hossain Chowdhury Prothom-aloKay said she ran around the hospital to supply oxygen to the father. But could not arrange high flow nasal cannula.
Lily Talukdar of Chilgachi village of Sirajganj Sadar was admitted to the hospital. Her son Enamul Haque complained that his mother's oxygen level had dropped to 68. But could not arrange high flow nasal cannula.
230 patients were admitted to Mohammad Ali Hospital yesterday. Among them, about 25 people were under treatment in critical condition of breathing.
According to hospital authority sources, Mohammad Ali Hospital was declared a Covid-19 specialized hospital in March last year. Until April this year, the reliance was on cylinder oxygen. Later central oxygen supply was started in the hospital. On June 27, the number of beds was increased to 200. The hospital administration decided to add 25 more beds on Friday morning due to increased patient pressure.
According to the information of the Department of Health, the number of nasal cannulae in Mohammad Ali Hospital is 4. But hospital authorities say there are two cannulas in operation. The remaining two cannulas could not be initiated.
Mohammad Ali Hospital Supervisor ATM Nuruzzaman Prothom-aloK said, two high flow nasal cannulas could not be activated after being allocated. The matter has also been informed to the Health Department. In addition, demand for more high flow nasal cannulae has been sent. However, no response has been received from the Department of Health yet.
200 High Flow Nasal Cannulas in Narail
The number of hospital-based high flow nasal cannulae is given in the Department of Health's daily coronavirus news bulletin. According to the Directorate, there are 200 high flow nasal cannulas in Narail District Sadar Hospital and Technical Training Center designated for corona patients. In reality there are only two high flow nasal cannulas in the hospital. Both those devices are not working. As a result, high levels of oxygen cannot be supplied to critical corona patients in Narail district.
Shafiq Tamal, Infectious Disease Control Officer of the District Civil Surgeon Office, expressed surprise after hearing the information of having 200 high flow nasal cannulae in Narail. he Prothom-aloKay said two high flow nasal cannulas were found this week. Cannulas have been provided in two district headquarters hospitals. Abdus Shukur is the supervisor of Sadar Hospital Prothom-aloK said that two cannulas were found last Sunday. It has not been launched yet.
Naogaon Sadar Hospital has no active high flow nasal cannula. The Department of Health says there are three. Sadar Hospital in Natore and Bangmata Fazilatunnessa Mujib General Hospital in Sirajganj have no nasal cannula. But according to the Department of Health, these two hospitals have one each.
In Jaipurhat Sadar Hospital, two nasal cannulas are mentioned, but in reality there is none. Critical patients from these districts go to Rajshahi or Bogra. Health Department says, Dinajpur M Abdur Rahim Medical College Hospital has 24 cannulas. However, yesterday evening, the hospital authorities informed that there are 16 cannulas.
Last Wednesday, there were allegations of death of five patients in Satkhira Medical College Hospital without getting enough oxygen. Nasal cannula information of that hospital is also wrong. According to the Department of Health, there are 38 cannulas in operation. On the other hand, hospital authorities say that there are 30 active high flow nasal cannulas.
In this regard, the spokesperson of the Department of Health and the director of the disease control branch, Nazmul Islam Prothom-aloK said that variation in the number of high flow nasal cannulae will be investigated. Narail's issue could also be a typo. Again, high flow nasal cannula may have been given somewhere, it has become useless, which has not been reported to the directorate.
Many hospitals don't have one
Many hospitals designated for corona patients do not have high flow nasal cannulae, which are much needed to serve complex corona patients. According to the information of the Directorate, Kurigram Sadar Hospital, Gaibandha Sadar Hospital, Brahmanbaria Sadar Hospital, Netrakona Sadar Hospital, Shariatpur District Sadar Hospital and Madaripur Sadar Hospital do not have any high flow nasal cannula for corona patients.
The former director of the disease control branch of the Department of Health is Prof. Bay Nazir Ahmed Prothom-aloK said, 'I can see signs of irresponsibility in every post. The responsibility of the director general of the health department, the health engineering department or the PWD should be identified for the shortage of oxygen supply. The problem will not go away if the problem of procedure, person or law is not specifically identified.' This public health expert said that the people of the city can go to another hospital if they do not get oxygen in one hospital. Village people do not have that opportunity.
