Electroencephalography (EEG) testing has been introduced for the first time at Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital on Monday.
The facility is designed to offer an essential diagnostic service suffering from epilepsy patients and other neurological conditions at a low cost.
The service was launched by the hospital’s director, Brigadier General Dr AKM Mashiul Munir.
The UK-based Tafida Raqeeb Foundation has donated an EEG machine to the hospital.
To ensure proper operation and maintenance, two medical technicians, including a neuromedicine specialist from Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, received specialised training at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital from 29 September to 4 October through the foundation’s initiative.
The EEG unit officially opened at Room 2037 on the hospital’s second floor at 10am on Monday.
Speaking at the inauguration, neuromedicine and neurology specialist Dr Kazi M Monirul Islam said EEG is used to observe and analyse electrical activity in the brain to diagnose a wide range of neurological disorders.
“It is particularly useful for detecting epilepsy, sleep disorders, brain tumours, head injuries, strokes and various changes in brain function,” he said, adding that the service will greatly benefit low-income patients.
“While the test costs Tk3,000 to Tk3,500 or more in the private sector, it will cost only Tk600 at the government hospital,” he added.
Hospital director Brigadier General Dr AKM Mashiul Munir said the machine was crucial for patients and had long been needed.
“We had already initiated the procurement process, but in the meantime Tafida Raqeeb Foundation generously supplied one machine each to Barishal, Sylhet and Dhaka Medical College Hospitals. We are grateful to the foundation for enabling us to provide this important service to poor patients in the region,” he added.
Assistant Director (Administration) Dr Md Mahmud Hasan, senior clinical pathologist Dr Ashik Dutta and others were also present at the opening ceremony.
