Surgeries put off due to pandemic

Nine die of Covid-19 in Rawalpindi, more patients put on ventilators

RAWALPINDI:

The garrison city witnessed highest number of deaths caused by the second wave of novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in a single day on Friday when nine patients died of pandemic. The deceased included Ulfat Akbar, Gulab Khan, Mirza Gulab, Ashfaq, Saeed and Fauzia who were under treatment at Holy Family Hospital.

Two other patients succumbed to the disease at Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH). According to official figures a total of 101 patients are currently under treatment at the Holy Family Hospital. Meanwhile at the main pandemic hospital, Rawalpindi Institute of Urology and Kidney Transplant (RIUKT) 10 patients were put on ventilator while 79 were on oxygen support

. Owning to the pandemic, the health authorities have stopped kidney transplant operations at BBH urology department. Kidney transplant of four patients was stopped on fears of contracting coronavirus due to presence of virus patients at the health facility. According to BBH Urology Department Head Dr Zainul Amer, the kidney transplant procedures would be completed once the severity of the coronavirus pandemic decreases and the situation returns to normal, but it is not possible to do so immediately.

The Human Organ Transplant Authority of Punjab (PHOTA) had given formal permission to BBH urology department for kidney transplant procedures for four patients. Following the clearance, the transplantation process was scheduled for the patients.

The department had also cleared the issue of tissue matching between donors and patients and related problems, but due to the severity of the second wave of corona, the kidney transplantation process was postponed on the ground that the medical procedures may be dangerous for the patient and the kidney donor at this stage.

Meanwhile, the District Health Office has increased testing for Covid-19. At the onset of second wave of the pandemic, supply of oxygen cylinders has also increased to meet demand at hospitals and homes.