Admissions of measles patients halted at Shishu Hospital and Azimpur Maternity due to space shortage

Due to the increasing number of measles patients, two hospitals in the capital are unable to admit children arriving with such symptoms because of a shortage of space.

Authorities at Bangladesh Shishu Hospital and Institute and Azimpur Maternity and Child Health Hospital say that this situation has arisen as the number of children coming with measles symptoms has increased in recent days.

However, relatives of patients say they are distressed as they are unable to get their sick children admitted even after going from hospital to hospital. Although hospital authorities advise them to go elsewhere, they are not leaving. Even without seats, they are staying in the hospital on the condition of staying on the floor.

Although Azimpur Maternity Hospital mainly provides services to pregnant women, it is being forced to accommodate measles patients. A separate ward has been arranged for six children. Beyond that, no additional patients are being admitted.

On the other hand, all departments of the specialized children’s hospital on Mirpur Road are important for pediatric care. If most measles patients are admitted within regular medical services, other children may face serious risks.

Although a separate ward with 54 beds has been arranged at this hospital and institute, 64 patients are currently admitted there. No more patients are being admitted. In the past two days, authorities have also advised nearly fifty patients to seek treatment at nearby hospitals.

Moni Akter admitted her one-and-a-half-year-old daughter Fatima Islam Adiba to Azimpur Maternity and Child Health Hospital last Sunday.

Moni Akter said, “I came here from Mirpur. After going to other hospitals, I didn’t get a seat. Then someone said I might get one here. After coming here, I saw a bad situation. After a lot of requests, I got admitted. After five days, her condition has improved a bit. The fever comes, but after medicine, it gets better.”

Salma Akter came from Shariatpur with her 14-month-old son Md. Hasan to Azimpur Maternity and Child Health Hospital.

She said, “I treated my elder son at this hospital. Hasan’s father lives abroad. After my child’s fever and cold became severe, I waited four days. Seeing measles symptoms, I came directly here. I don’t know any hospital other than this one. After many requests to the doctors, they admitted him. Now he is recovering.”

The hospital director Rashidul Alam said, “Our main service is for pregnant women and newborns. However, since we have a pediatric department, we also provide treatment to children. Many people come here; we have opened a ward with six beds out of necessity. Beyond this, we are not admitting any more patients.”

At the specialized children’s hospital in Dhaka, four children have died so far after being infected with measles.

Despite the extreme pressure of patients, the hospital authorities are unable to admit more patients. Although outpatient services are being provided, patients are being advised to go to other hospitals in Dhaka for admission.

Manjila Akter, wife of a garment worker from Gazipur, was admitted to the children’s hospital in Dhaka four days ago with her 8-month-old baby.

She said, “We have nowhere else to go except government hospitals. We brought the baby here; at first, the doctors said there were no seats. After waiting for a long time and pleading, we managed to get admitted. Now the baby is somewhat better.”

Mahfuza Akter, wife of a madrasa teacher from Sreepur in Gazipur, said the same. She said, “It has been 12 days since we were admitted. My 7-month-old daughter was in very bad condition. At first, it was difficult to get admitted. Now she is a bit better.”

The hospital director Md. Mahbubul Haque said, “We have allocated the entire Ward No. 2 on the ground floor for measles patients. There are 54 beds, but as of Saturday afternoon, 64 patients are admitted. We are not taking any more patients, and there is no capacity to admit.”

He also said that so far, 172 measles patients have received treatment at the children’s hospital.

Outcry over failure to get admitted

After coming to the hospital with measles symptoms, they were able to consult doctors. Although doctors advised admission, many mothers were seen crying as they could not get their children admitted.

Suman Mia, a rickshaw driver from Ghatail in Tangail, who brought his 9-month-old child, said, “Tangail Sadar Hospital told us to come here. Here, the doctor examined and told us to go to Dhaka Medical, Suhrawardy, or somewhere else. Where will I go? My 9-month-old daughter is not well, sir. Please see if she can be admitted.”

Similarly, Asma Akter, wife of Shamim Islam from Manikganj, was seen crying with her one-year-old son.

She said, “They refused here, now where will we go? My husband has gone to Suhrawardy Hospital to see if there is a seat. We are poor people, where else can we go?”

Children infecting each other

Assistant Professor Sumona Khandakar Shimu of Azimpur Maternity and Child Health Hospital said that the spread of measles across the country is happening as children are infecting one another.

She said the number of infections also depends on awareness among guardians. Especially now, children with fever should not be sent to school. Even vaccinated children can get infected, as it depends on their immunity.

A doctor at the children’s hospital said that increasing awareness is the first step in preventing measles. As the outbreak increased, pre-primary schools should have been closed.