A CORRESPONDENT
BISWANATH CHARIALI: The people of the district are allegedly in dire straits due to non-availability of ventilators in any hospital in Biswanath district.
The serious patients have to be shifted to neighbouring Sonitpur district in the time of emergency which costs them much time and money. The number of COVID-19 patients in Biswanath district is increasing day-by-day. In the district, 21 people have already lost their lives so far due to COVID-19.
Two ventilators were installed in two beds at Biswanath Chariali Subdivisional Hospital last year, but the District Health Department has not been able to make the beds functional due to various reasons. According to health department officials, the ventilator set up at the Biswanath Chariali Subdivisional Civil Hospital requires an oxygen plant to supply oxygen on a regular basis and trained personnel to operate it. However, these are not available in the hospital. The people and several social organizations have called for the installation of ventilators as soon as possible during this time of crisis.