Three more private hospitals in the capital city are to provide treatment for coronavirus cases. Work has also been completed on installing intensive care units (ICU) in the hospitals selected for treatment of coronavirus cases, which did not have ICU facilities.
Till Sunday, 14,657 coronavirus cases have been detected in the country, of which 6,423 are in the capital city Dhaka. With the increase of patients, the government is also increasing the number of hospitals and beds for the treatment of the coronavirus cases.
The government has rented the Impulse Hospital in Tejgaon industrial area for the treatment of members of the police force. Till Friday, 1429 members of the police had contracted coronavirus. Half of them are members of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).
The government had originally specified 10 hospitals in the capital city for coronavirus treatment. Three of these are private hospitals. Treatment is also being provided at a section of Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
The latest three private hospitals being included for treatment of coronavirus patients in the city are Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College Hospital, Impulse Hospital and Anwer Khan Modern Medical College Hospital. These three hospitals have a total number of 850 beds.
In a letter issued on 25 April, the health services division of the health ministry said that Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College Hospital has been selected to treat only coronavirus patients and that the government would provide funds in this regard.
Director of Holy Family Hospital, Mohammad Morshed, told Prothom Alo that 400 beds had been prepared for the treatment of coronavirus patients. The hospital had 10 ICU’s. It also had six HDU (high dependency unit) beds with ventilator facilities. The hospital would start admitting coronavirus patients from next week.
Anwer Khan Modern Medical College Hospital in Dhanmondi would also begin treating coronavirus cases from next week. It has 200 beds ready for the purpose and 10 ICU’s.
The government has rented the Impulse Hospital in Tejgaon industrial area for the treatment of members of the police force. Till Friday, 1429 members of the police had contracted coronavirus. Half of them are members of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).
Impulse Hospital had been rented for the purpose in order to lessen the pressure on the Rajarbagh Central Police Hospital, said assistant inspector general of police (media and public relations) Sohel Rana, speaking to Prothom Alo.
Basundhara isolation centre
A director has been appointed for the temporary hospital being prepared for coronavirus patients at the International Convention City Basundhara (ICCB). Physicians and nurse have also been appointed and appointments of other personnel are under process.
Director (hospitals) of the health directorate, Aminul Hasan, told Prothom Alo that the infrastructural work for an isolation centre at Basundhara was complete and it will be started this week. The isolation centre has 2013 beds and ICU with 71 beds.
More ICU facilities
ICU facilities and ventilators are essential for the treatment of coronavirus patients. However, Mahanagar General Hospital, Mirpur Maternity Hospital and the Railway Hospital, three of the hospitals selected by the government, did not have these facilities. Now 5-bed ICU’s are being installed in Mahanagar General Hospital and Mirpur Maternity Hospital.
On Friday there were 51 coronavirus patients under treatment at the Mahanagar General Hospital, located near the Babubazar bridge. Director of the hospital, Prakash Chandra Roy, told Prothom Alo that the 5-bed ICU had been installed and air conditioners were being procured through the Dhaka South City Corporation.
The Mirpur Maternity Hospital, located in Lalkuthi, Mirpur, had 47 coronavirus patients admitted till Friday. The hospital has 200 bed and 175 have been prepared for coronavirus cases. Director of the hospital, Shamsur Karim, speaking to Prothom Alo, said that the hospital didn’t have ICU facilities. A 5-bed ICU is being installed and will be ready in a couple of days.
No patients at Sheikh Russel Gastroliver
Among the hospitals specified by the government for coronavirus treatment, patients are admitted at Kuwait Bangladesh Friendship Hospital, Kurmitola Hospital, Mugda Hospital, Mahanagar Hospital, Mirpur Maternity Hospital and the Railway Hospital. Patients are also admitted at the Uttara and Mirpur branches of the private hospital Regent and at Sajeda Foundation in Shimrail, Narayanganj.
The Sheikh Russel Gastroliver Institute and Hospital at Mohakhali is prepared for the treatment of coronavirus patients, but till Saturday no patient was admitted there. Director of the hospital, Faruk Ahmed, told Prothom Alo the health directorate had not sent any patient there as yet.
Meanwhile, an isolation centre is being prepared at the Dhaka North City Corporation market in Mohakhali, which will have 1300 beds. It is likely to be ready in two weeks.
Plans for garment workers
Discussions are being carried out about beds to be specified in various hospitals for garment factory workers afflicted with coronavirus. Member of the health ministry’s media cell and additional secretary of the health services division, Rina Parveen, told Prothom Alo that the matter is under discussion, but not orders have been issued in this regard as yet.