Covid-19 units to open in four Khulna private hospitals

Four private hospitals in Khulna have been instructed to prepare 50 separate beds to treat Covid-19 patients. In addition, two more hospitals run by the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) are trying to set up novel coronavirus units.

The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the Khulna District Committee on Prevention of Coronavirus Infection held at the Deputy Commissioner's Conference Room on Sunday afternoon. 

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Helal Hossain presided over the meeting.

At the meeting, it was mentioned that 50 beds will be provided, each, to a part of Gazi Medical College Hospital, Ad-Din Medical College Hospital, Islami Bank Hospital, and Khulna City Medical College Hospital in Khulna, to treat Covid-19 patients. 

Medical services will be provided  in the next three days in consultation with the hospital authorities. Further, the civil surgeon will take the necessary steps to make the 42 beds on the fourth floor of Khulna General (Sadar) Hospital available very soon. Further, the possibility of using Lal Hospital in Khalishpur and Taltola Hospital in Corona under the KCC will be examined. 

Steps will be taken to set up another high-flow nasal cannula at Corona Hospital and another PCR lab for novel coronavirus testing in Khulna.

Also mentioned at the meeting was that the Rotary Club of Khulna is ready to provide all the medical equipment to set up 100 beds for treating novel coronavirus patients if it finds a suitable place.

It was said in the meeting that the PCR lab of Khulna Medical College will make arrangements to inform the office of the civil surgeon, by SMS, as soon as possible. It will be investigated whether the three declared red zones should be converted to yellow zones after 14 days.

At the meeting, KCC Mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleq said "The capacity for Covid-19 treatment at government hospitals is limited. For this reason, as per the instructions of the government, medical services will be provided to Covid-19 patients in a part of the private hospital."

Among others, the following individuals attended the videocall meeting: Khulna Divisional Commissioner Anwar Hossain Hawladar, Additional Commissioner of Police Sardar Rakibul Islam, Superintendent of Police SM Shafiullah, Director of Khulna Medical College Hospital Dr. Munshi Md. Reza Secunder, Khulna Medical College Vice President Mehdi Newaz, Khulna Civil Surgeon Dr Sujat Ahmed, Deputy Chief Information Officer of Khulna Information Office Javed Iqbal, Chief Executive Officer of the District Council Asaduzzaman Khan, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Ziaur Rahman, and Additional District Magistrate Yusuf Ali.