Hospitals told to brace for ailments as heat-related deaths continue across country

Health Minister Samanta Lal Sen has ordered the hospitals to prepare for a possible influx of heat-related ailments that may be triggered by the ongoing heatwave.

He discussed the issue with the civil surgeons and directors of government hospitals in a virtual meeting on Sunday as blazing temperatures continued to affect people’s lives and livelihoods, reports bdnews24.com.

At least three people died reportedly from heatstroke earlier in the day, taking the number of such fatalities to five in two days of record-breaking heat.

“Hot weather brings the risk of heatstroke. We’ve made guidelines for hospitals to manage these patients,” Sen said in a media briefing after the meeting.

Sen said the hospitals were ordered to keep beds ready to admit the elderly and child patients suffering from heat-related diseases.

The hospitals have sufficient amounts of saline and medicines, according to him. “But inform us whenever there is a deficiency in oral saline.”

The health minister said he consulted Education Minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury Nowfel and arranged for the closure of schools and colleges when the Bangladesh Meteorological Department issued a heat warning.  

An online training session for doctors on treatment of children during heatwaves will start later on Sunday, the minister said.

State Minister for Heath Rokeya Sultana said the Dhaka North City Corporation hospital designated for coronavirus patients in Mohakhali was asked to keep separate beds for the children and the elderly.

Heatstroke Deaths

A 60-year-old man in Pabna and another 42-year-old died from what the authorities believe is heatstroke on Saturday when temperatures reached very severe levels in some districts.

On Sunday morning, a 45-year-old homemaker named Shilpi Khatun died in Meherpur’s Gangni Upazila while working in the yard of her home at Ruerkandi village.

Her cousin Taslima Khatun said Shilpi had suffered from nausea and fever for three days during the heatwave.

Chuadanga, next to Meherpur, has been recording the highest temperature for quite some days. Jashore, another district in the region, surpassed Chuadanga on Saturday to record a nationwide highest temperature of 42.6 degrees Celsius.