Dhaka, July 28 – The death of two students of two public universities — Dhaka University and Jahangirnagar University of dengue virus infections have angered their students and have made them to stage agitation on the streets yesterday.The demanded proper steps from the authorities concerned to take effective mechanisms to control the mosquito menace. They also sought compensation from them for the deaths of their fellow classmate.
Meanwhile, Directorate General of Health (DGHS) yesterday asked all the private and government hospitals across the country to launch one stop centre for dengue patients and also fixed the prices for dengue tests at Tk 500.
Director General of DGSH Abul Kalam Azad met with the directors and managing directors of the private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centers to discuss the diagnoses and treatment of dengue, confirmed DGHS Medical Officer Dr Shah Alam Siddiqui.
The decision was taken when dengue turns into a near epidemic proportion as the number of recorded cases of dengue infection in the first seven month of this year has hit 11,654 (till the report filling) breaking all records of the mosquito-borne disease in the country.
During the meeting it was decided that all the private hospitals and diagnostic centers will open a ‘one stop centre’ for dengue patients and also increase the number of beds and manpower according to the number of patients.
The new prices for the tests, fixed during the meeting are—
Test New price/Tk Old price/Tk
NS-1 500 (maximum) 1200-2000
IgM + IgE or IgM/ IgE 500 (maximum) 800-1600
C
BC (RBC + WBC + Platelet + Hematocrit) 400 (maximum) 1000
“At the one stop centre, people will get to know all the details about dengue and also whether the patient needs to take admission for treatment,” said the DGHS official.
Students demo:
The students under the platform ‘Muktijuddho Mancha’ of Dhaka University yesterday burnt effigies of the health minister and mayors of Dhaka south and north city corporation demanding their resignation over “failure in controlling dengue outbreak” in the capital and across the country.
They formed a human chain in front of Raju Memorial Sculpture on DU campus around 11:00am and later burnt the effigies.
“Everyday people are getting affected by dengue and one student of Dhaka University died of the mosquito-borne disease recently, but Health Minister Zahid Maleque has compared the breeding capacity of Aedes mosquitos with the Rohingyas while DSCC Mayor Sayeed Khokon tried to discard dengue outbreak by branding it as a rumour,” a press release of the platform said.
Students of Jahangirnagar University yesterday staged demonstration on the campus after the death of their fellow who was died of dengue fever on Saturday.
The deceased student was identified as U Khein Nu, a first year student of Pharmacy department and resident of Pretilata hall of the university who succumbed to death while taking Chittagong to Cox’s Bazar for better treatment.
Protesting students alleged that U Khein was suffered dengue fever on the campus and her condition became vulnerable as that university medical center failed to supply enough treatment to her.
They also demanded compensation to U Khein’s family.
Around at 10.30 am, over 500 students of different departments and institutes formed human chain at the central shahid minar premises.
They placed a total of five points demand including initiatives to prevent dengue, cleanliness of campus area and availability of dengue treatment in medical center.
Meanwhile, over 100 students of Pretilata hall staged demonstration in front of their dormitories at the same demands.
They also alleged that their hall provost Associate Professor Ayesha Siddiqua misbehaved with the students when they went to seek actions against dengue on Saturday night.
Around 12 pm, JU Vice Chancellor Professor Farzana Islam accompanied with Pro VC (Academic) Professor Md Nurul Alam, Pro VC (Administration) Professor Md Amir Hussain and Treasurer Professor Sheikh Md Monzurul Huq came to the spot and assured the protesters for taking initiatives in this regard.
The protesters withdrew their demonstration after getting assurance from the authorities.
Protester Erfanul Islam of Drama and Dramatics department said, ‘JU VC Professor Farzana Islam assured to meet our demand. So, now we have postponed our programme’.
JU Proctor S M Firoz Ul Hasan said, ‘Dengue fever is now national issue. Whole nation is now victim to this disease. JU authorities have taken enough initiatives to overcome this worse condition’.
Meanwhile, university medical center has taken initiatives to identify dengue fever. Chief medical officer Dr Shamsur Rahman said, ‘We have purchased enough instruments and equipment to identify dengue forever. We also have enough facilities to give quality treatment. So, there is nothing to fear in this regard’.
Situation out of control:
The number of dengue patients, including children, is exceeding the number of seats for patients at the city’s government and privet hospitals, which is going to be a difficult situation to manage, sources at different hospitals said yesterday.
With the number of dengue patients rising rapidly, the hospitals are failing to meet the shortage of necessary colloids saline, of reagents to test blood and of other facilities needed for dengue treatment.
It was known that many government hospitals have no proper accessories to identify dengue; as a result patients are in trouble also privet hospitals charge more.
In the meantime, the Prime Minister’s Office asked all the government offices to ensure cleanliness at their offices by July 28 (yesterday).
All the hospitals in the district and Upazila level were asked to take preparation for providing dengue treatment to patients, if there is any case, he said.
Officials said a directive was sent to the government and private hospitals to give importance on critical patients than the non-complicated dengue patients during admission.
The dengue outbreak keeps getting worse as at least 683 patients were hospitalized yesterday. The number is the highest for a single day admission over the past few weeks.
The number of dengue patients exceeded the 6,000 mark three times in the last 19 years: 6,232 in 2002, 6,060 in 2016, and 10,148 in 2018, according to a DGHS report.
However, the number of dengue patients increased this year to 10,528 in just the first seven months, breaking all records in the country. This year’s outbreak has claimed at least eight lives so far, the data revealed.
In July alone, at least 9,510 dengue patients have been hospitalized.
However, the actual number of dengue patients and deaths caused by the mosquito-borne disease is likely to be higher than what has been reported in the government data, experts said.
So far this year, eight people were died of dengue disease, according to DGHS data
Analyzing different media reports and talking with different government and private hospitals in the city, The Independent found that, as of now, the number of deaths caused by dengue is about 32.
Up until now, extremely high fever, rashes, vomiting tendencies used to be considered symptoms of the fever but it is no longer the case.
Doctors said that dengue fever has taken a formidable turn as this time as the heart, kidneys and brains are being affected sending the patient into ‘dengue shock syndrome’ to which most patients have lost their lives.
According to them, dengue shock syndrome causes the blood pressure to fall to dangerous levels sending the patient into multiple organ failure which ultimately leads to their deaths.
Countrywide spread:
In Tangail, 2 females including a teacher have been attacked with dengue in Tangail. They are identified as Rima Sultana assistant teacher of Bharoi High School and Fatematujjohora wife of Akram Hossain teacher of Gobindashi High School under Bhuapur Upazila.
In Chandpur, A total of 18 dengue patients including three females are admitted to Chandpur 250 Bed Hospital.
Of them, five dengue patients were admitted to this hospital on Saturday till 11 pm from noon -said on duty Senior Staff nurses- Ummey Honey and Mosammat Morium Begum.
The dengue patients are segregated by mosquito nets in the male and female wards.
In Chuadanga 3 persons were attacked with dengue in Chuadanga.
In Chapainawabganj, 5 dengue patients were admitted to the Chapainawabganj Sadar Hospital on Sunday. Before this two more patients were admitted to the hospital.
In Jamalpur, doctors detected 13 patients who were affected by Dengue disease in the district.
In Jamalpur, general Hospital sources said 13 Dengue patients were admitted at Jamalpur hospital from July 22 to July 28.
In Jhenidah, a total of 10 patients of dengue were detected in Jhenidah. Of the four are provided treatment at Jhenidah Sadar hospital. – Staff Reporter
