Water supply to Barguna's 50-bed Amtali Upazila Hospital has remained disrupted for six months as the central water pump of the hospital went out of order on April 2 this year causing immense suffering to patients, attendants and the hospital staff.

Besides, people coming to the hospital to get jabs of the Covid-19 vaccine are also suffering.

According to the hospital sources, the main water supply pump of the hospital went out of order on April 2 this year. Later, a small quantity of water was arranged with an alternative connection to the deep tube-well of the nearby mosque but it was much less than the required amount.

Now, the hospital is admitting more than a hundred patients every day. But with the small amount of water being supplied, patients and their attendants are suffering while bathing and using the toilets.

Patients and their attendants have to fetch water from outside the hospital for bathing and toilet purposes.

Additionally, the hospital has four residential buildings for its staffers including doctors, nurses and other officials who are also suffering due to lack of water.

Chandra Vanu of Baithakata village, a patient of the hospital, said that due to lack of water, they are facing serious difficulties while bathing and washing clothes.

Mashiur Raman, a patient from West Chila village, said the water shortage is causing indescribable misery to them.

During a recent visit to the hospital, this correspondent found that due to lack of water, the standard procedure of washroom and toilet use could not be maintained. The unbearable stench was permeating from the toilets due to the low use of water.

Hundreds of people coming to the hospital every day to get the jabs of the Covid-19 vaccine also complained that they could not use the toilets properly due to a lack of adequate water.

Reba Begum, a nurse living in the hospital's residential building, said, "We don't get as much water as we need because the hospital's water pump remains out of order.

The water that is supplied in an alternative way does not allow us to clean the house properly and doing household chores."

Debabrata Haldar, deputy assistant engineer of the health department in Patuakhali, said that the water level in Amtali upazila was falling and the old pump could not draw water. So, a demand letter has been sent for the installation of a new pump to solve the water problem. Once approved and allocated, installation of the new pump will begin.

Amtali Upazila Health Officer Dr Abdul Muneem Saad said the water problem was getting worse as the water pump remains out of order for six months.

"I have informed the matter to the higher authorities more than once. But the problem is not being solved," he added.

Dr Maria Hassan, the civil surgeon of Barguna, said that the Department of Health Engineering has been informed of the matter.