The number of diarrhoea patients has been increasing alarmingly in the capital since the advent of summer. More than one thousand patients are getting admitted every day to the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) since March 16.
Over 1,400 diarrhoea patients were admitted to icddr,b in the last 32 hours till 8am Saturday.
Till 2pm Saturday a total of 695 patients were receiving treatment at the hospital. According to hospital authorities, diarrhea patients are usually discharged within 24 hours unless their condition is severe.
On an average, 44 diarrhea patients were admitted to the hospital per hour during this period.
The doctors are struggling to provide treatment to such a huge number of patients every day.
AKM Tariful Islam Khan, media manager of icddr,b informed that tents have been set up on the hospital premises for treatment due to the sudden patient surge. “This is the first time since 2007 and 2018 that so many patients have been admitted to the hospital,” he said.
Baharul Alam, chief of the icddr,b said, “During this time the average number of daily patient remains between 350 to 400 and the maximum number remains within 1,000. However, this time it has exceeded 1,200.”
He emphasized to drink safe water and avoid roadside foods.