The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Dhaka’s Infectious Disease Hospital in Mohakhali has been made operational again within 24 hours of Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain’s assurance, officials said on Tuesday.
The minister had visited the hospital around midnight on Monday following the death of a critically ill child amid a sudden surge in measles cases. During his visit, he pledged to reactivate the non-operational ICU within a day.
“We have inadequacies or shortages of facilities, but there is no lack of effort or negligence,” the health minister told journalists during his midnight visit. “The ICU, established with support from the Global Fund under the ERPP project, has been non-operational as the project ended. We will activate the ICU within a day by appointing or deputing doctors, anesthesiologists, and other staff.”
In response, authorities have deputed three doctors, one Junior Consultant (Anesthesia), and one anesthesiologist from various parts of the country to the hospital. The 5-bed ICU unit is now ready to provide emergency care.
The hospital has been struggling with a recent surge in measles patients, admitting people beyond its 100-bed capacity, with patients are being treated even on floors and verandas.
The facility also admits patients with other infectious diseases including rabies, AIDS, and tetanus. Given the space constraints, authorities have arranged a separate unit at the adjacent DNCC Hospital for treating measles patients.
The health secretary, the director general of the health directorate, and other officials accompanied the minister during his visit.
