All the hospitals in the city are overwhelmed; indoor and outdoor, both areas are filled with patients. Every hospital has a separate Dengue corner and each bed accommodates three-four Dengue patients. This picture is seen at all hospitals in the city.
In many cases, doctors are giving their chambers to Dengue patients and working round the clock to serve the people.
Health Emergency Operation Centre and Control Room information states that till Sunday (Aug 4), 1870 persons have been admitted to the hospital. On Aug 1, the number was 1,712 persons.
So far, the total number of patients admitted to the hospitals is 4,969 while outside Dhaka, the number of patients is 2,429.
From January last till Aug 4, the total number of Dengue patients is 24,804 while 17,338 left the hospitals after recovering.
At present, 7,398 patients are admitted to the private and government hospitals of the country.
People are expressing disbelief as to how doctors are managing to treat so many patients. Staffs of all hospitals are under tremendous pressure.
They are working as super heroes; some people are also labelling them ‘unsung heroes.’
At night, only two medical officers are at duty at the Kurmitola General Hospital and they have to look after 200 patients.
One doctor says: “Those who are coming from outside Dhaka, get off at the Mohakhali Bus Terminal and come to Kurmitola General Hospital; and since Dengue testing is available 24 hours, people often come during the night. On some nights, around 200 patients had to be treated.”
The hospital which has the most number of patients after Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) is Islami Bank Central Hospital.
Tanvir Ahmed, working at the hospital, says: “We started getting Dengue patients from May but over time, the number of patients has risen. Due to the intense pressure of patients, we cannot provide counseling anymore.”
Hematology specialist of Dhaka Metropolitan Hospital, Gulzar Hossain, said: “Doctors are working in double, triple shifts and there is a crisis of doctors and nurses at government hospitals.”
There is no need for panic; very few patients are going into shock and even fewer are dying but the fact is people are dying and that has triggered a sense of terror, he added.
Hospitals can appoint nurses, doctors on a temporary basis, he suggested.
Senior staff nurse of DMCH Kaniz Fatema observed: “This is a new experience, we never saw such pressure of patients ever.”
Another nurse states: “One hundred nurses were added from Cancer and Chest Hospitals; we are working round the clock to do our part in addressing a national emergency.”
Dr Yasmin of DMCH observes: “There are around 300 patients and we are short of doctors.”
Meanwhile, Dhaka Medical College Principal and medicine specialist Dr Khan Abul Kalam Azad, says: “Form interns to doctors – everyone is working round the clock.”
With doctors, nurses giving their best, the patients are saying that their idea about medical services has changed.
All patients are praising the unwavering dedication of the medical staff.