Seven Covid-19 patients of Government Mohammad Ali Hospital in Bogura, a corona dedicated hospital, died in a span of 13 hours on Friday due to the shortage of high flow nasal cannula (HFNC).
Families of the deceased alleged that the patients died due to the shortage of high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) which delivers oxygen at very high flow rates. Other than this, another 20 to 25 patients undergoing treatment in this hospital are in a critical state.
According to hospital sources, there are only two HFNCs in the Government Mohammad Ali Hospital. Two more nasal cannula were allocated but were still not in use. The hospital authorities are struggling to treat patients with inadequate equipment.
The seven patients who died at Mohammad Ali Hospital from 8:00pm on Thursday to 9:00am on Friday, were Rabeya Begum (60) of Panchbibi upazila in Joypurhat, Mira Begum (35) of Shibganj upazila in Bogura, Ali Zahid (65) of Sultanganj Para in Bogura, Abdul Matin Chowdhury (82) of Badalgachhi upazila in Naogaon, Tuku Mandal (65) of Sariakandi upazila, Abdul Hannan (65) of Shibganj upazila and Lily Chowdhury (55) of Sirajganj Sadar.
Mostaq Hossain Chowdhury, son of retired high school principal Abdul Matin Chowdhury, told Prothom Alo that his father, a corona patient, was battling for breath from Thursday night since the level of oxygen of his body had come down to 70.
“I rushed to the physicians and nurses, but I couldn’t find any physicians on duty while the nurses didn't pay attention to me. Later, my father passed away in front me,” he said.
Enamul Haque, the son of deceased Lily Chowdhury, alleged that the oxygen level of his mother went down to 68. He rushed here and there to manage a HFNC. But he failed and his mother passed away.