33 children die in 11 days while waiting for ICU in Rajshahi

❐ Staff Correspondent

Children are dying one after another at Rajshahi Medical College (RMC) Hospital due to a shortage of ICU beds.

At least 33 children died in just 11 days between March 11th and 22nd while waiting for ICU beds. Currently, an average of 38-40 children are on the waiting list for these life-saving beds every day.

The most tragic incident occurred in the case of two-and-a-half-year-old Nusayba. She was seriously injured in a road accident and was admitted to Ramech Hospital. Doctors recommended an ICU bed for her and her name was number 22 on the waiting list. But Nusayba died on March 12 before the serial could air.

Four days later, on March 16, the hospital authorities called the family members to inform them that Nusayba’s serial number had arrived. Nusayba is the daughter of Sabuj Ali, a resident of Kathenga village in Chatmohar upazila of Pabna. The incident highlighted the hospital’s management flaws and lack of communication.

Many others, including Nahid, a child from the Terkhadia area, have suffered a similar fate. They died without getting a bed despite the advice of the ICU.

The condition of the hospital’s ICU

Ramech Hospital has one of the largest ICU complexes in the country, with a total of 60 beds. Of these, 40 are for adults and 20 for children. However, there are allegations that the number of effective beds in the pediatric ICU is even lower (some sources mention 12). As a result, the facilities are inadequate compared to the demand.

Hospital sources said that although the new infrastructure has been built, it has not been fully operational. There is a shortage of approved pediatric ICU beds in many government hospitals in the country.

The incident has caused extreme anger and frustration among parents. Many are sitting helplessly in the hospital corridors with their children’s bodies.

Doctors say that it is difficult to save seriously ill children (due to accidents, respiratory problems, infections, etc.) without access to the ICU.

Some sources have cited the number of child deaths in the last two and a half months as up to 53, indicating the depth of the crisis.

Health experts and locals have demanded an immediate increase in pediatric ICU beds, staffing, improved communication systems, and full commissioning of the newly built infrastructure. This facility is essential for the large population of the Rajshahi region.

This crisis is not only exposing the weaknesses of the RMC, but also of the pediatric sector of the country’s public health system. The parents’ plea is that no more children should lose their lives waiting for ICU.