DSCC provides medicines for viral fever without testing for dengue

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Nayan Sarkar
Published : 10:00, Jul 24, 2019 | Updated : 10:00, Jul 24, 2019

Members of Dhaka South City Corporation health team-23, at Mirza Abbas Degree College in Shahjahanpur, Dhaka on Tuesday (Jul 23). Photo/Mehedi HasanJegun Begum received medicines, and a prescription for normal viral fever from Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). She does not even know whether she has dengue or influenza.
While visiting Mirza Abbas Degree College, DSCC Zone II, ward 11, at Shahjahanpur area, this correspondent found many patients waiting to receive treatment from the DSCC health team-23.
“I have been suffering from cold, and fever for the last three days. They [the DSCC health team] did not ask me to take a test, but instead gave me Histacin, and Amoxicillin tablets,” said the 40-year-old.
A two-year-old boy, Mahirun, is suffering from fever for the last four days. After coming to the health care, the doctor in-charge gave him antibiotic, and paracetamol for fever, and Histacin for cold.
Bangladesh Sub-Assistant Community Medical Officer (Sacmo) Dr Shahrukh Elahi of the health camp said: “We provide primary treatment for fever, cold, and other related diseases. We do not have any test to diagnose dengue fever. But we refer them to a government hospital for tests, and treatment.”
There were 45 patients at the health camp on Tuesday (Jul 23). Among them 28 were female, five children, and 12 male.
Dr Keya Moni of the health team said that the team has been providing free health care at Mirza Abbas Degree College from Jul 15, but since they did not find any symptoms for Dengue, they did not need to send any patients to a hospital.
“No IV drip is administered here if dengue symptom is diagnosed,” she said, adding that the city corporation did not provide any IV drips, and only oral saline is available, said Dr Keya.
Dengue fever is not being treated appropriately at home, as the patients are only given paracetamol, and antibiotics after measuring their blood pressure, she added.
Sacmo Dr Romen Mondol, Zone II, ward 11 said: "I received instructions to visit the homes of patients who call the hotline. I instructed them, over the phone, for a primary treatment, and visited four patients. But I prescribe only antibiotics, paracetamol, and Histacin. Since city corporation [DSCC] did not provide us with any IV drip, and instruments to conduct blood tests, we could not do those."
Meanwhile, DSCC Mayor Sayeed Khokon said: "We are ready to provide dengue prevention programs, and medical care to the citizens by applying all powers on behalf of the DSCC. We have already formed 67 medical teams. Health workers will be stationed in 476 educational institutions, and socio-cultural institutions in different areas to provide free healthcare. Health workers will arrange for patients to be admitted to hospitals, if needed.”
Besides, if patients can be healed at home, they will be provided with medical care as well, he added.
Dr Nazmul, Sacmo, of Zone I, Ward 15 said that on Tuesday he got four patients showing symptoms of dengue, gave them primary treatment, and referred them to a medicine consultant.
We clinically diagnose dengue by looking for the symptoms. Then we give medicine for fever, and refer them to hospitals for tests, and treatment. We do not provide treatment for dengue such as IV drips, he said.
When asked whether there are follow-ups of patients who are referred to hospitals, Masum Billah Ward II Secretary said that the health camps only provide primary treatment.
“If someone recovers, they sometimes visit the camps to let us know that they have recovered, or that the doctor they were referred to told them to take bed rest at home. We do not follow up on such patients anymore,” Masum Billah said.
In the wake of recent dengue outbreak in the capital, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has launched a free diagnosis program for dengue patients.
DSCC Mayor Sayeed Khokon inaugurated the 15-day medical test program titled "Special Primary Treatment Service 2019" at Nagar Bhaban on Jul 15.
A hotline number (09711000999) has also been opened for public in this regard.

/pdn/
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