Covid-19 in Pabna: Poor testing, facilities result fewer cases

Five months after Covid-19 cases first emerged in Pabna, the district health authorities say it is much better placed than other districts in terms of number of cases.

The reality, however, is that extremely limited testing and treatment facilities means lownumber ofCovid-19 cases and patients seeking treatment in hospitals.

Though Pabna was allotted three PCR machines early into the outbreak, according to sources in the district health department and the respective ministries which allotted these, the machines are yet to be set up due to the local health authorities dragging their feetover lack of manpower and high operating costs to start testing.

The first Covid-19 patient was reported in the district on April 16 and since then, a total of 916 Covid-19 cases havebeen identified as of August 22, according to the Pabna civil surgeon's office.

Nine people have died while 804 of the infected patients have recovered, said Dr Abdur Rahim, Covid-19 control room in-charge of the civil surgeon's office.

Covid-19 testing in the district is currently in trouble as the Rajshahi testing lab hasn't been accepting samples from Pabna since early August.

Rajshahi Covid-19 testing facilities have been burdened with samples from nearby smaller districts such as Pabna which have no or limited testing facilities.

"The Rajshahi lab has stopped taking samples from us so we are having to send samples to government labs in Dhaka from the start of this month," Dr Rahim said.

In the same period of time, a total of 1,711 and 2,193 Covid-19 patients have been identified in Sirajganj and Kushtia respectively as of August 15 -- both adjoining districts of Pabna -- according to data from their respective civil surgeon's offices.

In both districts, the government and local health authorities had set up PCR labs in the early weeks of the outbreak -- meaning more suspected patients have come in to be tested at facilities in these districts, sources said.

"It is true that we get very few patients, but that does not mean the disease has come under control," said Dr Saleh Mohammed, dedicated doctor for Covid-19 patients at the 250-bed Pabna General Hospital which has 100 beds allotted for coronavirus cases.

Although over 900 patients have been infected in the district so far, only 20 patients have taken treatment at the dedicated Covid-19 hospital in Pabna in the last five months.

"If we get testing facilities, we will get more patients. Unfortunately, we are depending on others for Covid-19 testing which might be the reason behind the poor numbers."

Not just testing -- treatment facilities are lacking too. The facility has only been seeing patients presenting mild symptoms because it does not have the capacity to treat those with more severe symptoms, he said.

"Although we are running a 100-bed Covid hospital in Pabna General Hospital, there are no special arrangements for Covid patients. There is no central oxygen supply and no ICU unit has been installed in the last five months, so critical patients do not come to the Pabna Covid hospital," said Dr Saleh.

Asked about poor treatment facilities in Pabna, the civil surgeon said the district is in a much better position than other districts pointing to the low number of cases and patients being treated in hospitals.

"The situation is under control," saidPabna Civil Surgeon Dr Mehedi Iqbal.

He also said though three PCR machines have been allotted for Pabna -- one from the health ministry and two from the science and technology ministry through the Rooppur nuclear power plant project -- the district is yet to receive a single one though his office has repeatedly submitted official letters to the authorities concerned.

"A floor of the Pabna Medical College Hospital has been selected for setting up PCR machines. I have sent letters to the health ministry and Rooppur nuclear plant authorities to set up the PCR machines but neither of these authorities have taken steps in this regard till now," said the civil surgeon.

He said that he is unable to say the reason for the delay as it is not at his end and he is in communication with the respective ministries.

However, an official of the Rooppur nuclear power plant, seeking anonymity, said that the science and technology ministry is ready to send the two PCR machines but the local health authorities are stalling after receiving the high operating cost numbers and manpower requirements.

So, administrative negligence means PCR labs are yet to be set up in Pabna five months into the outbreak although adjoining districts such as Kushtia and Sirajganj have received machines and set up labs by April.