Ruptly
"Parents of young children have described desperate conditions at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barishal, where a major measles outbreak has left patients crowded into corridors and families struggling to secure basic treatment. Footage captured on Sunday shows children and their relatives occupying wards, stairwells and corridors across several floors. Some beds appear to be shared by multiple patients, while waste is seen accumulating inside treatment areas. Families said shortages of beds, intensive-care space and medical supplies had forced them to purchase medicines and equipment outside the hospital. “I came to this hospital last Monday,” said Monirul Islam, a parent. “Now I am in great trouble with three children. Two are very sick. The doctor told me to take them to Dhaka.” “Every day we spend four to five thousand taka here,” said Sakina Akhter. “We have to buy everything ourselves, including basic supplies.” Other parents accused staff of failing to provide adequate assistance as the hospital struggled with the surge in patients. “The nurses are not cooperative,” Nasima Begum said. “They told us to put the medicine in the nebuliser ourselves. We are doing everything ourselves.” Khairul Islam said families were being left to manage much of their children’s care. “The nurses are extremely negligent,” he said. “We have to bring all medicines from outside. The hospital only provides oxygen and basic syrup.” Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital is the main referral facility for Barisal division and has faced increasing pressure as measles cases have risen dramatically. Local health authorities reported thousands of infections across the division and dozens of deaths among children, with large numbers of patients being admitted to the hospital and other facilities. The measles surge has coincided with increasing dengue infections, adding further pressure to limited beds, staff and isolation facilities and raising concerns over cross-infection in overcrowded treatment areas. Bangladesh is experiencing one of its worst measles outbreaks in decades. The crisis has primarily affected children under five, particularly those who are unvaccinated or have received only one dose. The government has launched emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaigns, lowered the eligible age to six months in affected areas and deployed response teams to high-risk districts. Measles is a highly contagious airborne viral disease. It spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and the virus can remain infectious in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours."
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