Rahima Khatun is a resident of Majhipara village in Hatia upazila, Noakhali. Her 4-year-old son, Ayan, has been suffering from diarrhea for the last four days. Although he was admitted to a local hospital, his condition did not improve. He was later transferred in a critical state to the emergency department of Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute (formerly Dhaka Shishu Hospital) in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka. Doctors mentioned that if he had been admitted even a little later, it would have been very difficult to save him.
A recent visit to the hospital revealed that many children, affected by various cold-related illnesses, were waiting in front of the hospital’s emergency department with their relatives. Most of them had come for treatment of diarrhea and cold-related issues. The emergency department was overcrowded. And chairs outside were completely filled. Some parents, unable to find a seat, were sitting on the hospital floor with their sick children in their laps.
Sources reveal that the hospital’s emergency department has only seven doctors. The total number of beds is just two. When patient numbers increase, doctors from other departments are brought in. The doctors are also struggling to provide adequate treatment due to shortages of beds, staff, and equipment.
According to the hospital authorities, the highest number of diarrhea patients was recorded at the hospital last December. Following that, pneumonia was the second most common illness. In that month, 203 patients were admitted for pneumonia treatment, while 1,100 patients were treated in the outpatient department. Additionally, 4,797 children received treatment for cold and cough-related issues, 425 for breathing problems, and 1,326 for diarrhea.
This month, 132 patients were admitted for pneumonia treatment, and a total of 3,106 patients were treated in the outpatient department. Of these, 603 children had pneumonia and 820 were suffering from diarrhea.
Children are more prone to illnesses during winter, and many are affected by cold-related diseases, which leads to increased pressure on children’s hospitals. Additionally, many patients come from outside Dhaka, further adding to the pressure. However, the quality of healthcare is being compromised due to shortages of beds, staff, and equipment.
Despite staff shortages, the hospital’s deputy director, Professor Dr. S M Khalid Mahmud Shakil, mentioned that they are providing the best possible care with the available resources. Speaking to Bonik Barta, he said, “The hospital has 680 beds, which is insufficient for the number of patients. The infrastructure of the hospital is also quite old. I believe that the hospital needs more equipment and staff. However, despite the lack of resources, we are doing our best to provide quality care, and our doctors serve with utmost sincerity.”
According to sources, the hospital was established in 1972. It currently has 680 beds. In 2021, the government declared the hospital a statutory body. The hospital was renamed from “Dhaka Shishu Hospital” to “Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute.” It is currently the largest children’s hospital in Bangladesh. The hospital, spread over 6.15 acres, has 18 NICUs, 18 PICUs, 18 HD and isolation beds, and 361 oxygen-equipped beds. However, these facilities are insufficient for the growing number of patients.
The hospital also has a pediatric cardiac surgery unit, cath lab, and cardiac ICU. There is a kidney ICU and a critical care nephrology and dialysis unit to address children’s kidney issues. The hospital provides treatment for complex and chronic gastrointestinal disorders in its nutrition, liver, and digestive system departments. It also has centers for asthma, periodic respiratory care, and pediatric diabetes. The neurology department identifies various neurological diseases and mental health issues in children through its child development center. Currently, due to the cold, most of the children being admitted are suffering from pneumonia. Doctors at the Pneumonia Research Center ensure 24/7 care for these children. Many patients come from outside Dhaka, and patients from other hospitals in the city are also referred here.
Associate Professor Dr. Mahbub Hossain told Bonik Barta, “Our radiology and imaging department is currently run by just four doctors, and there is a shortage of equipment. We had a portable X-ray machine, which has been out of order for a long time and cannot be repaired. Moreover, we do not have an MRI or CT scan machine. Therefore, patients are sent outside the hospital for these tests. This wastes time and delays treatment. It also becomes risky to send children for tests outside the hospital.”