Cumilla Medical College Hospital is struggling to cope with a surge in measles infections, forcing child patients to receive treatment in overcrowded wards, corridors, and even on floors due to an acute shortage of beds.
Shockingly, a fully constructed 100-bed specialized children’s hospital has remained unused for over a year, worsening the crisis.
Located at Paduar Bazar Beltoli beside the ঢাকা–চট্টগ্রাম highway, the modern pediatric hospital building was completed in 2024. However, it is yet to be operational due to a lack of doctors, nurses, equipment, and administrative responsibility.
Officials say the delay stems from a dispute between Cumilla Medical College Hospital’s pediatric department and the Civil Surgeon’s office over who would take charge of the facility.
A recent visit to Cumilla Medical College Hospital revealed a dire situation. Despite opening three isolation units for measles patients, the hospital is unable to handle the overwhelming number of cases. Children are being treated in hallways and verandas, often lying on mats or directly on the floor.
Currently, at least 32 শিশু patients from Cumilla, Noakhali, Brahmanbaria, and Chandpur are admitted to isolation units. However, due to space constraints, many are forced to stay outside the wards in unsafe and crowded conditions.
Farzana Akter, mother of a six-month-old الطفل named Ayat from Hajiganj in Chandpur, said, “My baby is on oxygen support through ventilation. We were referred here because such facilities are not available in our district.”
Similarly, Sukhen Das from Nabinagar, Brahmanbaria, said, “We didn’t get any bed after coming here. We are receiving treatment in the corridor, but we came because this hospital offers better care.”
Dr. Mia Monjur Ahmed, head of the pediatric department at Cumilla Medical College Hospital, said the hospital has only 40 designated beds for children but regularly treats nearly three times that number. The measles outbreak has further multiplied patient pressure.
“If the 100-bed pediatric hospital at Paduar Bazar was operational, we could provide specialized care, including proper isolation facilities. It would significantly reduce the burden here,” he added.
According to the Health Engineering Department, the hospital was built on three acres of land at a cost of approximately Tk 36.53 crore. Construction was completed in 2024, but operational delays have left it unused.
Recently, the responsibility of the hospital has been handed over to the Cumilla Civil Surgeon’s office. Civil Surgeon Dr. Ali Noor Mohammad Bashir Ahmed stated that requests have already been sent to the ministry for manpower recruitment and necessary equipment.
“If the higher authorities take prompt action, we hope to launch the hospital soon,” he said.
Meanwhile, parents and locals have expressed deep concern over the inhumane conditions in which children are being treated. They are urging the authorities to immediately open the facility and ensure proper healthcare services for children in the region.
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