Parvin is not a patient but has been in the hospital.since January 6. She has been asked by doctors to sleep on the floor until beds open up in the female ward on the second floor.
But she is more than happy. The reasons: She now has a roof over her head. Also she gets two square meals a day here.
Hospital authorities say she had lived in the hospital for over three months before. "Now she is again here. But we have not been able to allot her a bed so far," says a hospital official.
Parvin, originally from the Kharampur area, has no qualms. "I have no relatives or place to live. I am too old to work. At least, here I don't have to worry about food and shelter."
Rizia Aktar, a senior staff nurse of the hospital, says Parvin only takes two medicines a day for back pain. "Otherwise she is fine. She was here earlier too."
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Resident medical officer Shyamol Kumar Voumik, however, says the existing rules don't permit the hospital authorities to house the homeless. "She is here as a patient only."
Upazila health and family planning official Rashedur Rahman says he is aware of the problems being faced by the homeless.
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"Parvin is one of them. She is not sick. She is only staying in the hospital for food and shelter. Anyway, we are providing her with all the necessary care," he adds.