Rent-a-bed: Hospital runs out of beds as number of patients reach 46

DHO, Tehsil Municipal Corporation to conduct anti-dengue fumigation twice a day.

MINGORA:

As many as 46 patients, including eight women, are said to be infected with dengue in Swat. Some patients had to resort to renting beds from elsewhere after Saidu Teaching Hospital’s Medical Ward ran out of space.

Medical Ward A was allocated by the hospital solely for dengue patients.

The number of infected patients reached 23 Wednesday night according to unofficial reports and almost doubled by Thursday afternoon.

“My wife and three children have been admitted to the hospital after they tested positive for dengue,” Aya Khan, a resident of Qambar said. “But I have had to rent four beds from outside the hospital for which I have to pay Rs50 each. I am a labourer and cannot afford Rs200 for beds plus medicine expenses,” complained Aya as he attended to his family in the hospital.

In addition to the bed rental charges, patients have to cough up an extra Rs3,000 as a security deposit and provide a copy of their national identity card.

“When I brought my daughter to the hospital, I was told there was no vacant bed so I went and arranged for one. I deposited Rs 3,000 as security which I’ll get after she is discharged,” explained Fayoon Khan, a resident of Ghwarejo. According to Fayoon, there was no janitorial staff in the ward even in the morning.

Syed Allam, from Bara Bama Khela village of Matta tehsil was tending to four patients from his family. All of them have dengue fever. “Our family members had come to Mingora to meet relatives and when they returned to the village they had fever.”

“Initially they were treated for four days at Tehsil Headquarters Hospital but then their condition deteriorated,” explained Allam. Tests confirmed all four had dengue, he added.

An official from the District Health Office (DHO) confirmed 46 cases. He shared the DHO office and Tehsil Municipal Corporation plan to use anti-dengue spray in Mingora. “We have formed several teams to conduct anti-dengue fumigation twice a day and will have control over the situation soon.”

Net precautions?

Dr Malak Saeed, a medical specialist at Saidu Teaching Hospital, confirmed there were no complications in any of the admitted cases – all patients were stable. “Presently we have 34 patients admitted in the medical ward and all others were discharged after they recovered completely,” the doctor said. “The situation is completely under control.”

However, according to an official at the hospital who wished to remain anonymous, the hospital had run out of mosquito nets Wednesday evening. “We don’t have mosquito nets for the (six) newly admitted patients,” he said on Wednesday when the toll reached 23.

He pointed out there is a distinct possibility of an increase in the number of cases in the district which would mean the hospital would need more medicines. “So far the government has not arranged for a single medical team to visit the affected areas to determine the exact number of patients or to launch awareness campaigns.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2013.