Water supply has been completely suspended at the Rajapur Upazila Health Complex in Jhalakathi since Monday causing extreme suffering to 88 admitted patients and hundreds of outpatients.
The lack of water in toilets and bathrooms has resulted in a foul odour spreading throughout the hospital area, posing significant health risks to both patients and healthcare workers.
A visit by our correspondent revealed that not a single drop of water is coming from the hospital’s taps. Consequently, relatives of admitted patients are forced to collect water in buckets from distant canals or ponds.
Many patients and their relatives complained that they have been unable to bathe for four days and are facing unspeakable hardship in maintaining hygiene after using the toilets. The victims claimed that patients are becoming more ill due to the unclean environment.
Hospital sources stated that the submersible tubewell, installed 55 years ago when the complex was established, has now become defunct.
Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Md Abul Khayer Rasel said, “The tubewell had been experiencing problems for a long time. Although the motor was replaced three times through the Department of Public Health Engineering, it burnt out every time. Current tests show that the underground water level is not being found.”
Authorities have begun work to wash the tubewell pipes. If this does not resolve the water issue, temporary arrangements will be made to supply water to the bathrooms from the hospital pond as an alternative.
Meanwhile, the Department of Public Health Engineering has written to the relevant higher authorities regarding the necessity of installing a new deep tubewell.
