Jewel Chowdhury, Habiganj Representative //

The number of patients in the children’s ward of Habiganj Sadar Hospital is increasing. Due to intense heat, parents are admitting children suffering from various cold-related diseases including diarrhea and pneumonia. The number of patients has increased to such an extent that the neonatal intensive care unit (SCAN) has 10 times more babies than beds.

Doctors said that there are two posts of paediatricians in the hospital Although there is one doctor. They are always in the children’s ward Confirming treatment.

According to hospital sources, 19 newborns (under 28 days of age) and two children died in the hospital last week due to extreme heat .

Visiting Sadar Hospital on Monday (September 23) on the ground, it was seen that the children’s ward, the scan room and the outpatient department were all crowded with child patients. Some of them have cannulas in their hands and some have nebulizers in their mouths. The parents were seen waiting for the doctor with the children in their arms. The number of admitted patients was 95 against 11 beds in Scanoo. The adjoining room was also filled to the brim with the presence of child patients and their relatives.

The officials of the hospital said that several newborns are dying in the scan every day. The cries of their relatives cast a shadow of mourning around the ward throughout the day. 19 newborns died in Scanu from last September 12 to last Friday, September 20.

The nurses of the hospital said that the scan has 11 warmer seats. As there are 10 times the number of patients, child patients are being treated by sharing seats and shifts.

Mr. Ali of Bagunipara village of Habiganj Sadar Upazila said that the doctor said to give therapy to his child for 72 hours. Therapy is being given every 5 minutes as there is a long line for the scan. Inside, the newborn began to squirm. Many children are being referred from Habiganj to Sylhet. When contacted in the outpatient department, the in-charge doctor Masud Rana said, “More than 300 patients are receiving treatment in the outpatient department every day. The excess of patients is due to the change in weather.

Going to the children’s ward on the fifth floor of the hospital, it is seen that there is no room for moles in the presence of patients and their relatives. There are 50 beds. There were 247 children admitted. Dr. was treating the children there. Devashish Das. He said that there have been outbreaks of various diseases including respiratory problems, pneumonia and diarrhea in children due to extreme heat. Because of this, the number of patients in the children’s ward has increased. Due to the high number of patients in the scan, the newborns who come here are usually in very poor condition. Newborns are also affected by unskilled delivery. He also said that care should be taken so that children do not sweat in the heat. They should be dressed in thin cotton cloths. In any case, coils and aerosols should not be used in children’s rooms.

Habiganj 250-bed District Headquarters Hospital Dr. Aminul Islam Sarkar said, “Although there are two posts of pediatricians in the hospital, there is only one doctor. Still we are always ensuring treatment in the children’s ward.