Bagerhat: ICU unit reopens after a year and a half in 250-bed district hospital
The 10-bed ICU (Intensive Care Unit) service has been reopened in the 250-bed district hospital of Bagerhat, which was closed for a long time. Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain inaugurated the ICU unit virtually at 11 am today, Sunday (June 14).
Bagerhat-2 MP Sheikh Manjurul Haque Rahad, Bagerhat Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Anup Das, Civil Surgeon Dr. A.S.M. Mahbubul Alam, Hospital Superintendent Dr. Asim Kumar Samaddar and other officials and employees were present at the inauguration ceremony. Locals have expressed satisfaction over the resumption of ICU service after a long time.
The hospital authorities said that the resumption of ICU is a matter of good fortune for the people of Bagerhat. However, there is a shortage of manpower and several important equipment in the hospital. Local MPs and hospital authorities have said that important services like CCU, CT scan and kidney dialysis will be introduced in the future.
Bagerhat-2 MP Sheikh Manjurul Haque Rahad said, relatives of dying patients know how necessary ICU is. Despite having the equipment, the hospital did not have ICU service. Today, with the introduction of this service, the people of Bagerhat have taken a step forward in terms of medical services. The MP assured that the crisis in the hospital will be resolved.
Hospital Superintendent Dr. Asim Kumar Samaddar said, 24-hour pathology and testing facilities are required in the ICU. We do not have that manpower. There is also a financial crisis. Even then, we try our best to serve the patients. The higher authorities have been informed about the crisis in dialysis equipment and CT scan machines. Hopefully, we will be able to provide full services soon. Civil Surgeon Dr. A. S. Md. Mahbubul Alam said that most people have to rely on the district hospitals as the upazila hospitals do not have the capacity to provide services for serious diseases. With the introduction of ICU in the district hospital, everyone will get more services. However, this official requested everyone to provide services sincerely.
During the Corona pandemic, ICU services were started with three beds in the 250-bed Bagerhat District Hospital on April 23, 2021. Later, 7 more beds were added at different times and a total of 10-bed ICU unit was inaugurated on November 14, 2023. The ICU unit was operational until December 2024 through a project of the Ministry of Health. After the project was completed, the ministry also withdrew the manpower. Since then, the ICU unit of the hospital was closed for more than a year and a half. Due to its unused status, ventilators, patient monitors and other valuable equipment were being damaged. Finally, the ICU unit was inaugurated today.
