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Inadequate logistic supports

Many suspected Covid-19 patients reluctant to test


Published : 16 Apr 2020 09:33 PM | Updated : 06 Sep 2020 09:03 AM

Many people, suspected to have contracted coronavirus, are reluctant to seek medical care or even hospitalisation due to inadequate logistic supports for testing of coronavirus and for the lack of treatment facilities. Many such victims said that to become sure of whether he or she is infected or not is one of the most difficult things that they have to overcome. Such ordinary people who have already suffered ordeals of going through testing and hospitalization difficulties alleged that it often requires influence from the high ups in the government to get proper attention of the healthcare providers and hence get admission.

“It is a nightmare to know if you are infected or not. If testing is so difficult for common people like us who knows what happens to those people who are poor and have no one to get help from,” said one of the victims. Anyone tested positive for coronavirus in district or upazila, he or she has to stay home instead of getting opportunities of being hospitalized. However, if someone is admitted to any hospital, the patientsare not attended properly by medical professionals, another victim alleged.

In addition, if anybody dies with symptoms of coronavirus, family members or relatives of the victims have to wait for hours for the test result to be sure of whether their nearest or dearest one were infected by the virus or not. Many of the patients and their families raised allegations specially against some of the private hospitals for refusing to provide treatment to those people suffering with the symptoms of the virus.

According to them, in most cases, although the hospital authorities do not provide proper equipment or training to the doctors or nurses, they (authorities) force them to provide treatment to the patients infected by coronavirus. On the other hand, many of the doctors and nurses themselves are not willing to provide treatment to the infected people or those who wish to get admitted with the symptoms of the virus.

Virology expert Dr Nazrul Islam, also a former Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), said that there are lack of coordination in the process of the treatment of coronavirus. He raised questions on the quality of training given to the doctors and nurses involved in the process of the coronavirus treatment.

Prof Islam also suggested finding out the real reasons behind the fear factors of the healthcare providers. In some cases, doctors and nurses are being kept as hostage for the treatment purposes, he mentioned. Prof Islam put emphasis on providing quality training to medical professionals, acquaint them with the proper use of equipment and logistics, like protective gears they are supplied.

The virology specialist said that coronavirus infected patients should be dealt with two separate ways. “Less infected patients would have to be isolated from others while those who are badly infected (extreme cases) have to be kept in high-care wards,” he said and continued as saying that apart from treatment, doctors and nurses should inspire the patients for their mental supports.

A health expert alleged that there are huge mismanagement in the preparations the health ministry. Number of testing is increased and therefore, number of patients also increased, but the number of doctors and nurses is not increasing proportionately. As per the latest updates, the death toll of coronavirus infected people stood at 60 till Thursday.

Prof Dr Nasima Sultana, additional director general (administration) of Directorate General of Health Services during a briefing on Thursday said at least 10 people died of coronavirus infection in the last 24 hours. This was the highest number of deaths due to Covid-19 in a day in the country. Three hundred and forty-one people have tested positive for Covid-19 in the last 24 hours, also the highest in a day.

With this, the total number of infected has reached 1,572 in the country. A total number of 2,019 samples were tested in the last 24 hours across the country, which is 16 percent higher than the day before, Dr Nasima added.