After losing his father, youth Nayan holds a placard outside Bhola Sadar Hospital demanding an ICU and CCU

After losing his father for lack of advanced treatment, a youth named Nayan has demanded the launch of an intensive care unit (ICU) and a coronary care unit (CCU) at Bhola Sadar Hospital. He made the demand holding a handwritten placard in front of the hospital.

Nayan is a resident of Bhola Sadar upazila. After his father died on the night of October 26, he shared his experience on social media. He then stood in front of the Bhola 250-bed General Hospital with a placard to press the demand.

According to Nayan, at around 12:30am on October 26 his sick father was taken to Bhola Sadar Hospital for emergency treatment. But as the hospital had no ICU or CCU facility needed for critically ill patients, and for lack of advanced treatment opportunities, his father could not be saved.

So that no other family has to lose a loved one for lack of treatment, he demanded that an ICU and CCU be launched quickly at this hospital. He also shared his bitter experience of the hospital's medical services on Facebook.

Ensuring emergency and intensive-care-based treatment (ICU and CCU) at the Bhola 250-bed General Hospital has been a long-standing demand of the people of this region. But as it has not been implemented, ordinary people are losing their lives, it is alleged.

Local people believe the absence of an ICU and CCU at a full general hospital is a major gap in public health services. So that no other child has to lose a father for lack of proper treatment like Nayan, conscious citizens have sought the urgent intervention of the health ministry and the authorities concerned to launch ICU and CCU units quickly.

The hospital's superintendent, Dr Taybur Rahman, said in this regard that although ICU beds and necessary equipment arrived at the hospital in 2021, they could not be launched for lack of skilled manpower.

Dr Taybur Rahman also said the higher authorities have repeatedly been informed of the need for anaesthetists, intensive care specialists and trained manpower required to run an ICU. If the necessary manpower is provided, an initiative will be taken to launch the ICU quickly, making it possible to ensure advanced treatment for critically ill patients in Bhola itself.