Rajshahi records season’s lowest 7°C; hospitals overwhelmed with child patients
Patients and their attendants crowd a hospital corridor as admissions rise amid a severe cold wave sweeping the northern region. PHOTO: STAR
The cold wave sweeping across northern Bangladesh has intensified, causing severe hardship for the poor and disadvantaged communities and disrupting daily life and livelihoods.
Rajshahi recorded the season's lowest temperature at 7°C yesterday, according to Jitendranath Ray, acting officer of Tetulia Weather Observatory.
Elsewhere in the region, minimum temperatures recorded yesterday were 8.6°C in Tetulia, 9°C in Dinajpur, 10°C in Saidpur, 11.9°C in Rangpur, and 10.5°C in Kurigram's Rajarhat.
Mostafizur Rahman, meteorologist and in-charge of Rangpur Meteorological Office, said, "The sun was not visible for most of the day. Cold winds and fog intensified the severity of the cold spell. Similar weather conditions may persist for several days, with temperatures likely to drop further."
The severity of the cold has forced people indoors, disrupting business and official activities, while also contributing to a decline in attendance at educational institutions across the region.
A cyclist rides through dense fog Freezing temperatures continue to disrupt daily life and livelihoods across the country. PHOTO: STAR
Rahena Begum, 60, from Sahapara village in Panchagarh's Boda upazila, said, "The cold has become unbearable, especially from evening until morning. Even after covering myself with two or three blankets, it does not feel warm at night."
Meherun Nesa, 56, a house-help from Badupara village in Thakurgaon Sadar upazila, said braving the bone-chilling cold to go out for work in the morning has become extremely difficult.
Many others from various professions echoed similar struggles.
Meanwhile, the number of patients suffering from cold-related illnesses, particularly children and the elderly, has surged in hospitals across the region and the country.
Cases of pneumonia, breathing difficulties, cold, cough, fever, diarrhoea, and bronchiolitis are rising alarmingly among children.
Over the past three days, approximately 1,250 children suffering from cold-related ailments have been admitted to upazila and district-level hospitals across Rangpur division's eight districts, according to Rangpur Divisional Health Director Gausul Azim Chowdhury.
"Doctors have been instructed to ensure proper medical treatment for children admitted to the hospitals with cold-related illnesses," he added.
Besides, over 4,000 people received outpatient treatment at hospitals, he added.
At Rangpur Medical College Hospital, pediatric patients, mostly aged one to five, are being forced to share beds due to bed shortages amid the high influx of patients.
Sabina Begum from Rangpur city's Tajhat area said, "My one-year-old has been suffering from breathing problems for the past three days, so we had to admit him to the hospital."
Dr Mahfuzur Rahman, child specialist at Rangpur Medical College Hospital, explained that children's body temperature drops sharply during winter, weakening their immunity and increasing the risk of infection.
"Instead of panicking, parents should ensure protection from the cold for their children to prevent them from falling ill," he added.
Brigadier General Ashiqur Rahman, director of Rangpur Medical College Hospital, said, "Many children are in critical condition. Doctors are making their utmost efforts to provide intensive medical care."
A similar situation is unfolding in Barishal division.
At the Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH) in Barishal, around 80 percent of child patients are suffering from cold-related illnesses, hospital sources said.
Currently, a total of 310 children are being treated in the hospital, including 74 admitted yesterday, against a total capacity of 70 beds. Additionally, 250 child patients received treatment in the outpatient department yesterday. Of the total 560 patients, around 450 are suffering from cold-related complications, said physicians at the hospital.
Although the hospital has received recent directives from health authorities, space constraints have made it almost impossible to provide beds to all children, said Bikash Nag, head of the child department at SBMCH.
"Still, we are trying our best within our capacity," he added.
Jasmine Begum said her two-year-old daughter was admitted two days ago with respiratory complications.
"There is only one nebuliser available in the Child Medicine Unit-1 on the hospital's first floor. So we had to buy one from outside," she said.
Unit in-charge Jannatul Ferdous said, "Currently, 64 patients are admitted against just 20 beds in the unit. At times, the number increases even further. About 80 percent of patients here are suffering from cold-related illnesses," she said.
"One of the two nebulisers in the unit is not functioning. We informed the authorities to manage additional equipment," she added.
