Insufficient infrastructure at civil hospital will leave docs on back foot to treat swine flu

After dengue, the city hospitals have now geared up to tackle the contagious respiratory disease-swine flu, which is reported more during the winters. In view of swine flu, the state health department has issued instructions to make all arrangements, including isolation wards and adequate number of ventilators for the swine flu patients.

After dengue, the city hospitals have now geared up to tackle the contagious respiratory disease-swine flu, which is reported more during the winters. In view of swine flu, the state health department has issued instructions to make all arrangements, including isolation wards and adequate number of ventilators for the swine flu patients.

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But the Ludhiana civil hospital is still in need of advanced medical ventilators, as the hospital has only two ventilators, of which, one does not working and another is not equipped with advanced technology.

The swine flu patients may face breathing problems at times, and they need to be put on ventilator (a machine to provide mechanism of breathing to a patient, who is unable to breathe).

Rogi Kalyan Samiti president Shivram Saroye said, “Ludhiana has a population of 35 lakh, and for such huge population there is a dire need of more than five ventilators of advanced technology. I appeal to the government to provide new ventilators at the civil hospital, so that the patients do not have to suffer.”

In the beginning of this year, some cases of swine flu were reported. And the condition at the district civil hospital leaves patients suffering, as the patients are always referred to PGIMER, Chandigarh, or they are forced to go to private hospitals in severe conditions.

He further said, “Besides, swine flu, other patients may also need ventilators. The private hospitals charge too much for ventilator facility and poor patients cannot afford the treatment.”

An employee at the civil hospital, requesting anonymity, said, “The only working ventilator at the hospital is 25-30 year old. It is neither equipped with the latest technologies, nor is it computerised.”

Nearly 70 cases of swine flu were reported at the city hospital from January to April, 2013. Of them 25 patients belonged to Ludhiana, and seven of them had died.

State nodal officer of integrated disease surveillance programme, Dr Deepak Bhatia said, “We have already issued instructions to the district health departments to make all required arrangements.

Medicines and kits have been provided to the departments. The hospitals have also been asked to make isolation wards and arrange ventilators. The medicine for swine flu will be given free of cost.”

“Some suspected cases of swine flu were recently reported, but the reports were negative. So, people should follow the precautions”, he said.

Senior medical officer at the civil hospital, Dr RK Karkara, said, “We have made an isolation ward, wherein four beds have been installed for the swine-flu patients. We have also installed one ventilator for these patients and another ventilator needs some repair.”

Awareness can prevent swine flu

Medical superintendent at Christian Medical College and Hospital, Dr Kanwal Masih, said, “With the dip in mercury, cases of swine flu (H1N1) are on rise. The initial symptom of swine flu is cold and fever.”
The common symptoms of swine flu are usually like those of regular seasonal flu and include chills, cough, fever, loss of appetite, aches, fatigue, runny nose, sneezing, throat irritation and respiration problems.

People who suspect that they have H1N1 infection should stay home and avoid contact with other people
Consult doctor without delay

Everyone should wash hands frequently with soap and hot water. Wear gowns, masks and other necessary items while meeting patient.