Over 13 lakh people of the western district of Chuadanga are being deprived of modern ICU ambulance service for over three years as the lone facility remains idle due to lack of trained manpower, thanks to reluctance of the authorities concerned.  District’s Sadar Hospital is struggling to deal with the huge number of population with only two ambulances, indicating a poor ambulance service compared to the need. The ICU ambulance, gifted by the Indian government for Chuadanga Sadar Hospital, has been left unused for years and turned into a symbol of neglect, apparently the ambulance is becoming sick itself instead of serving patients. The state-of-the-art ICU ambulance, equipped with advanced medical facilities, was a part of India's donation to Bangladesh on the occasion of its Golden Jubilee of Independence. It arrived at Chuadanga Sadar Hospital on November 26, 2021, and was handed over to hospital authorities the same day. However, more than three and a half years later, the ambulance remains inoperative due to a lack of trained medical personnel, nurses, and essential equipment. Dialysis Crisis: Manikganj Hospital left with only one working machine No ICU Services in Chuadanga Surprisingly there is no ICU facility in any government or private hospital in the district, crippling the huge population.  As a result, critically ill patients from Chuadanga Sadar Hospital are regularly referred to Dhaka, Rajshahi, and other medical college hospitals for better treatment. A functioning ICU ambulance could have played a crucial role in ensuring safer patient transfers, but authorities appear indifferent to its activation. Hospital Authorities Cite Manpower Shortage Acknowledging the issue, Chuadanga Sadar Hospital Superintendent Dr. Bidyut Kumar Roy said, "Although we have a life-support ambulance, we are unable to operate it due to a lack of trained personnel. We have already communicated with higher authorities about establishing an ICU unit at the hospital. Once the ICU is operational, the ambulance can be put into service." Chuadanga Civil Surgeon Dr. Hadi Zia Uddin Ahmed said, "The ICU ambulance is under the hospital superintendent's supervision. However, without trained medical staff and doctors, we cannot operate it. That is why it remains unused." Severe shortages cripple healthcare at Bagerhat’s 250-bed hospital As critically ill patients continue to suffer due to inadequate emergency transport, the idle ICU ambulance stands as a stark reminder of mismanagement and wasted resources.

Medicare services of ICU and HDU units at Chuadanga sadar hospital remain suspended for around nine months due to lack of manpower causing a grave concern in the district as the fourth wave of the Covid-19 has already started in the country. Residents of the district have urged the concerned authorities to take necessary measures to open the life-saving units further taking into account the prevailing situation.  Sources said one ‘Sajeda Foundation’ inked a deal with the hospital authority on March 21 last year that they would treat ICU and HDU patients with their own manpower and necessary equipment including ventilator for a period of two months.    As per the deal, the foundation set up 6 ICU beds, 8 HDU beds, two ventilators and other equipment on the third floor of the hospital’s new building later. A team of 44 members of the foundation including 10 physicians, 14 ICU staff nurses, 7 ward boys, one each lab technologist and  X-ray technologist and others started treating patients especially for Covid-19 from July 26 last year. Though local lawmaker and heroic freedom fighter Solaiman Haque Joarder formally inaugurated the units on August 07 last year, the foundation engaged itself in serving patients much earlier.  The hospital authority said providing the ICU and HDU services to patients with the equipment have been halt for shortage of manpower for last nine months as the foundation left the hospital with their manpower after end of the tenure of the deal. Read: Baby snake killed after bit by 16 months old in Chuadanga Aminu Islam and Abdul Kader, treatment seekers who came at the hospital told this correspondent that they were very happy to learn about launch of the ICU and HDU units at the hospital last year as there was no ICU bed at any government and private hospitals in the district. Expressing grave concern over the closure of the two units after two months of launching, they have urged the prime minister to open the life-saving units soon permanently. Dr Nafiz Ullah, who performed duty as residential physician at the ICU unit during the tenure, told the UNB that the foundation provided patients with the ICU and HDU services with its own manpower and instruments for the two months as per the deal during the Covid pandemic in Chuadanga.  After the expire of tenure of the contract, the foundation donated the instrument of the units to the hospital authority and all manpower left, he said adding that they in a survey found activities of the units remain suspended owing to shortage of manpower.   The equipment including the expensive ventilators will go out of order if these lay idly for long, he said. Dr Ataur Rahman, Caretaker of Chuadanga sadar hospital, told this correspondent that he was not attached to the hospital when the foundation treated patients and donated the equipment. He said the units remain closed due to shortage of skilled manpower and other factors. We sent a letter to health ministry to take necessary measures to run the units further considering the current situation, Dr Ataur added. 

An Indian returnee, who tested positive for Covid-19, has escaped from the isolation ward of Chuadanga Sadar Hospital on Tuesday. The Covid patient has been identified as Abul Kalam Azad, 45, son of Siraj Ali of Nandani village in Bholahat upazila of Chapainawabganj district. Resident medical officer of the hospital, Dr Wahid Mahmud Robin said the patient had been undergoing treatment in the red zone of the isolation ward of the hospital since January 9.  "He went missing from the hospital on Tuesday afternoon." Read: Global Covid cases surpass 333 million Kalam returned from India on January 9 through the Darshana border and tested positive for Covid-19. Later, he was taken to Chuadanga Sadar Hospital. On Tuesday morning, the hospital authorities collected his sample for retest and his results emerged negative, said Dr Wahid. "We suspect that Kalam left the hospital without informing anyone."

Police recovered the throat silt bodies of a couple from Gobindopur village in Damurhuda upazila on Sunday evening.