Pabna Oxygen Crisis

Collected Pabna hospital is facing an oxygen crisis

Patients, relatives panic as oxygen crisis hits Pabna amid swelling Covid-19 cases

People- mostly relatives of patients- were seen barely following health guidelines while either waiting for oxygen cylinders or waiting for the doctors. Even after demonstrating in front of hospital authorities around 10 times, the issue still remained unresolved. The hospital authorities, on their part, did not install a hand sanitizer kiosk for visiting people. With the numbers swelling fast, healthcare professions found it difficult to deal with the pressure.

Meanwhile, kin of patients have alleged mismanagement and negligence from the hospital authorities.

Md Alamgir, a resident of Sadar upazila alleged that even after informing the authorities about the oxygen supply shortage, they did not take any action.

Alamgir, who lost his mother recently, said the latter was admitted to the facility's coronavirus unit on Sunday with fever and breathing difficulties. "There was an oxygen shortage from the beginning. Even after informing them as many as ten times, they did not provide an oxygen cylinder. However, oxygen cylinders were present in their stock."

"I am yet to come to terms with the fact that my mother died right in front of my eyes, due to lack of oxygen supply. Not only my mother, several patients struggled for oxygen at that time.

"I admitted my mother here with a lot of hope, sadly, they don't have the basic infrastructure for treatment," he added.

The relatives of another patient echoed Alamgir's sentiments.

Mamun Hossain, who identified himself as the brother of a patient, alleged that many patient who did not require admission at the coronavirus unit, were admitted. "I admitted my sister here 12 days ago. Even though her samples were taken the very next day, I'm yet to receive the test result."

They claimed that medical services were being severely disrupted due to the oxygen crisis.