Healthcare providers at increased risk in Barishal

On April 15, an elderly person was admitted to the medicine ward of Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH) in Barishal in an unconscious state.

Attendants of the 70-year-old from Banaripara did not inform doctors that he had breathing difficulties and cough, which became evident after a chest X-ray.

Immediately, physicians sent his sample to the lab and the man was tested Covid-19 positive, said Dr Sudip Halder, president of Indoor Doctors' Association of SBMCH. "As a result, we're keeping the medicine unit-3 locked down. Doctors, nurses and other staffers at the unit have been quarantined since April 16," he added.

This is not an isolated incident. There are a number of reports that people suspected of coronavirus infection and their attendees are excluding vital information of  their contact history, putting healthcare providers and others at risk.

Experts said this is leading to panic and further spread of the disease. Such patients are even infecting doctors, who are on the front line of the battle against Covid-19. They said many patients hide their contact information so that they are not refused treatment, or become stigmatised.

This prevailing situation is also resulting in different units of the Barishal hospital being locked down to contain the spread of the virus, hampering medical services.

On April 21, all student dormitories of SBMCH were locked down as five intern doctors and two nurses were infected with coronavirus while treating patients, said SBMCH Director Dr Bakir Hossain.

On April 13, a patient, aged around 27, was taken to Babuganj Upazila Health Complex, said the authorities. He was treated as a normal patient, they said. But later, they came to know that he used to work at an RMG factory in Narayanganj, but the patient did not disclose that information beforehand.

The medical officer sent his sample for testing and the result showed that he was infected with the virus, they said.

Since April16, the entire health complex has been closed and healthcare providers have been in home quarantine, confirmed Barishal Civil Surgeon Dr Manowar Hossain. Two doctors of Agailjhara Upazila Health Complex tested Covid-19 positive although they recovered later, he said.

Moreover, medical services are being hampered at Bakerganj Upazila Health Complex as the upazila health and family planning officer was diagnosed with Covid-19 on April 25, confirmed the civil surgeon.

Dr Mehedi Hasan, a medical officer of Bakerganj Upazila Health Complex, said they are discharging their duties in fear of being infected. "If things go like this, there will be no doctors or nurses to provide service," he said.

Sources at Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said 107 people -- including ten doctors, four nurses and eight health workers -- were infected with coronavirus in Barishal division as of yesterday evening. Among them, 36 are in Barishal district, 20 in Patuakhali, 2 in Bhola, 7 in Pirojpur, 30 in Bargunaand 6 in Jhalakathi.

NO PPE FOR INTERN DOCTORS

Though intern doctors at SBMCH are risking their lives in the fight against coronavirus, they are not getting personal protective equipment (PPE) from the government.

Several of them talked to The Daily Star about the issue seeking anonymity. "I try to protect myself by wearing a raincoat and a mask," said one of them.

Presently, 150 intern doctors are on duty, confirmed Dr Asit Kumar Das, principal of Sher-e-Bangla Medical College.

Another intern doctor said, "We have to be at the frontline, so we deserve PPE. We submitted a memorandum to the director in the first week of April, but to no avail."

SBMCH Director Dr Bakir Hossain said they distributed PPE only among doctors and nurses as per DGHS direction. "We gave the intern doctors some safety gears like N-95 masks and gloves."

DGHS Barishal divisional Director Basudeb Kumar Das said there is no official instruction to provide PPE to intern doctors. "If there is adequate supply, we will give them later," he added.