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While people of the southern region of the country were busy with securing themselves from cyclone Sitrang, health care professionals of Mongla Upazila Health Complex just next to the Sundarbans were busy saving the lives of eight mothers and their babies during power outage.
The health care professionals – medical officers Dr Nurjahan Nishat and Dr Mehedi Hasan, senior staff nurses including Biva Rani Mondal, midwife Ayesha and several other health assistants – worked with rechargeable lights, mobile torch and candle light day and night as the health complex was without electricity due to cyclonic storm.
Upazila Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr Shahin Hossain supervised all the processes being present at the hospital.
The issue came into light after the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) disclosed the incident of birth of seven babies through a Facebook post on Tuesday late night.
Talking to The Business Post senior staff nurse Biva Rani Mondal described the day saying the situation outside the health complex was disastrous.
There had been strong wind outside along with heavy rain amid power outage since the morning of the day. From the afternoon the health care professional started to receive as many as eight pregnant women till that night in critical condition, she recalled.
Dr Shahin Hossain said receiving a good number of such patients during cyclone is a common phenomenon and accordingly all types of possible preparations were taken for the night.
But as the hospital was out of electricity they finally ended up with no oil to run their electricity generator at night. In this situation the medical doctors completed their task with charger, mobile torch light and candle as alternative means.
On-duty doctor Dr Nurjahan Nishat said: “We were determined to save the mothers and babies and did whatever we could. Midwife Ayesha also did an excellent job during our attempts as well.”
Having no electricity and interrupted mobile network service was the main hurdle during the time, the physician said.
Only one patient was referred to Khulna as normal delivery of her baby was not possible due to her physical condition and she needed an urgent C-section.
The health care professionals at the hospital provided her with necessary follow-up treatment, she said.
Dr Shahin said six out of the seven babies were discharged from the hospital till yesterday evening. “I have an excellent team at Monagla Health Complex that anyone can want to work with,” he said.
