Healthcare facilities are available to tackle dengue outbreak: DGHS

City Desk :

The authorities have ensured adequate healthcare facilities for dengue patients as the entire country is in the grip of the mosquito-borne disease.

“Dengue positive cases have been increasing alarmingly in the country since the early July this year… we are working constantly to provide adequate healthcare facilities for dengue patients at all public hospitals across the country,” Director General of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Prof Dr Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam told BSS.

Currently, roughly 900 beds dedicated to dengue patients are vacant at public hospitals, he said, adding “Other necessary healthcare facilities including tests have been made available for dengue patients.”

Alam attributed dengue shock syndrome to the highest number of deaths this year, blaming lack of awareness among the people, reports BSS.

The health service chief said second-time dengue infection with a different strain and late hospitalisation are among the main reasons for the rise in deaths this year.

“We are mapping Dhaka city to identify risky areas of dengue disease… we are taking measures accordingly to treat dengue patients and helping the organizations entrusted with mosquito management,” DGHS chief added.

According to hospital authorities, pressure of dengue patients have decreased slightly in healthcare facilities in Dhaka city meaning dengue situation is in decreasing trend in the capital city while the number of dengue cases are increasing outside Dhaka city.

“On an average, 600 dengue patients were getting admission to Mugda Medical College Hospital every day since the beginning of July . . . a huge pressure from dengue patients for admission continued till mid-August,” Director of Mugda Medical College and Hospital Dr Md Niatuzzaman said.

“Almost 50 percent pressure from dengue disease has reduced in Mugda Medical College Hospital since mid-August,” he said, adding pressure of hospitalization of dengue patients as well as dengue tests have decreased in the past two weeks.

Since the beginning of July this year, dengue disease has been increasing alarmingly and this increasing trend continued till second week of August, the Mugda Hospital chief said, adding, “We have expanded treatment facilities including dengue dedicated unit to cope with increased number of dengue patients.

Director of Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital Dr Khalilur Rahman said, “Pressure of dengue patients for both of admission and other treatment is decreasing gradually… around 300 dengue patients got admitted between beginning of July and second week of August.”