Immediate action : District headquarters hospitals told to set up isolation wards
Decision taken to treat patients affected by diseases rampant in summer.
Lady Reading Hospital. PHOTO: EXPRESS
PESHAWAR:
Summer has always tested the nerves of the provincial government with the outbreak of various diseases including diarrhoea and other water and food-borne diseases. The provincial government has decided to establish isolation wards for those affected by vaccine preventable disease.
Currently, a large number of children can be seen in the emergency wards of almost all the tertiary care hospitals. These children are brought for treatment against diarrhoea.
“This is my third visit to Lady Reading Hospital and with every visit, nurses administer one injection and a drip, and my cousin recovers,” Arsalan Khan, a resident of Sherkera on outskirts of the provincial capital, told The Express Tribune.
However, he added, his 14-month-old cousin was repeatedly vomiting. Arsalan said he wanted his cousin to be admitted, but the doctors were reluctant to do so, saying the child would recover with an injection and drip and that there was no need to admit him.
Keeping in view the number of patients of diarrhoea and above all the rising number of measles cases, specifically in northern areas of the province, the provincial government has decided to immediately establish isolation wards.
The K-P health department has asked administration of all the district headquarters hospitals (DHQ) to immediately establish the wards for VPDs.
Gearing up
The department officials have also conveyed to the officials concerned to make arrangements for special facilities for heatstroke cases since heat was likely to hit parts of the province, read an official letter addressed to the director general of the health services.
A copy of the letter available with The Express Tribune read the summer season has set in and there are chances of outbreak of different food-borne diseases across the province. “Diarrhoea, enteric fever and viral hepatitis, besides cases of heatstroke, and exhaustion may also be increased,” the letter read.
It added measles cases were reported from different areas of the province and there was a dire need of immediate action so that lives could be saved.
“The competent authority is pleased to direct that all medical superintendents should establish small isolation wards and oral rehydration therapy corners in DHQ hospitals of the province for timely management in best public interest,” the letter read.
In-house precautions
A senior health official said the wards will not only cater to the needs of patients infected with the diseases mentioned above, but also to those suffering from dengue, influenza, Congo and other viral infections, since they did not want to risk other patients’ lives admitted for other illnesses.
“This is not only preventing other patients from infections, but the health staff as well, since the staffers designated to provide medical assistance and care to patients with several viral infections, sometimes fall victims themselves,” the official said. He requested anonymity since he was not entitled to talk to the media.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 12th, 2016.
Summer has always tested the nerves of the provincial government with the outbreak of various diseases including diarrhoea and other water and food-borne diseases. The provincial government has decided to establish isolation wards for those affected by vaccine preventable disease.
Currently, a large number of children can be seen in the emergency wards of almost all the tertiary care hospitals. These children are brought for treatment against diarrhoea.
“This is my third visit to Lady Reading Hospital and with every visit, nurses administer one injection and a drip, and my cousin recovers,” Arsalan Khan, a resident of Sherkera on outskirts of the provincial capital, told The Express Tribune.
However, he added, his 14-month-old cousin was repeatedly vomiting. Arsalan said he wanted his cousin to be admitted, but the doctors were reluctant to do so, saying the child would recover with an injection and drip and that there was no need to admit him.
Keeping in view the number of patients of diarrhoea and above all the rising number of measles cases, specifically in northern areas of the province, the provincial government has decided to immediately establish isolation wards.
The K-P health department has asked administration of all the district headquarters hospitals (DHQ) to immediately establish the wards for VPDs.
Gearing up
The department officials have also conveyed to the officials concerned to make arrangements for special facilities for heatstroke cases since heat was likely to hit parts of the province, read an official letter addressed to the director general of the health services.
A copy of the letter available with The Express Tribune read the summer season has set in and there are chances of outbreak of different food-borne diseases across the province. “Diarrhoea, enteric fever and viral hepatitis, besides cases of heatstroke, and exhaustion may also be increased,” the letter read.
It added measles cases were reported from different areas of the province and there was a dire need of immediate action so that lives could be saved.
“The competent authority is pleased to direct that all medical superintendents should establish small isolation wards and oral rehydration therapy corners in DHQ hospitals of the province for timely management in best public interest,” the letter read.
In-house precautions
A senior health official said the wards will not only cater to the needs of patients infected with the diseases mentioned above, but also to those suffering from dengue, influenza, Congo and other viral infections, since they did not want to risk other patients’ lives admitted for other illnesses.
“This is not only preventing other patients from infections, but the health staff as well, since the staffers designated to provide medical assistance and care to patients with several viral infections, sometimes fall victims themselves,” the official said. He requested anonymity since he was not entitled to talk to the media.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 12th, 2016.