Chuadanga Correspondent:

Due to the change of seasons, there is hot sun and heat during the day. And mild cold at night. In such hot and cold weather, the number of patients suffering from fever, cold and cough, diarrhea and pneumonia has increased in Chuadanga. Doctors and nurses of Sadar Hospital are struggling to provide medical services to these patients who have fallen ill at home.

Chuadanga Sadar Hospital authorities say that they are struggling to provide medical services as several times more patients are admitted to various wards than their capacity. In the last one week, at least 5,000 patients of various ages suffering from cold have sought medical services from the outpatient department.

According to the records of Chuadanga Sadar Hospital, a total of 4,964 patients have come to the outpatient department in the seven days till Sunday. Of these, 1,906 are women, 1,518 are men and 1,528 are children. At this time, 155 children have been admitted to the 13-bed pediatric ward. The majority of the infected are suffering from respiratory problems, pneumonia and diarrhea.

According to hospital sources, the highest patient pressure has increased in the children's and medicine wards. Against only 13 beds in the children's ward, 175 new patients were admitted from March 2 to yesterday afternoon. Of these, 19 children were admitted on March 2, 30, March 3, 15, March 4, 36, March 5, 18, March 6, 22, March 7, 15 and yesterday until 1 pm. Doctors said that about 90 percent of the patients in the children's ward were infected with pneumonia and colds.

On the other hand, 210 people were admitted to the diarrhea ward in the last one week. Against only 11 beds in the women's medicine ward, 246 patients were admitted in a week; of which the maximum number of 54 patients were admitted on March 4. On the other hand, 174 new patients were admitted in the men's medicine ward in the last one week against 22 beds.

Atiqur Rahman, the father of a child undergoing treatment in the diarrhea ward, said that his child had diarrhea due to the change in weather. The child's condition has improved somewhat after staying in the hospital for three days.

Mahbubur Rahman Milon, a pediatrician at the hospital, said, "We see an average of about 200 child patients every day. Due to the change in weather, children are sweating and getting sick with colds. Parents need to be very aware during this time."

Nazmus Shakib, acting resident medical officer at Chuadanga Sadar Hospital, said, "Children and the elderly are most at risk at this juncture of the season change. Although the hospital is currently under a high pressure of patients with fever, cold and cough, there is no shortage of medical services. We are ensuring the highest possible service. The hospital has adequate stock of necessary medicines."

Altaf Hossain, a weather observer at Chuadanga First Class Weather Observatory, said that the minimum temperature recorded in Chuadanga yesterday was 21.2 degrees Celsius and the maximum was 32.0 degrees Celsius. The previous day, the minimum temperature had dropped to 18.8 degrees Celsius.