Polio counter at Polyclinic: Hospital faces staff, space shortage to run the cell

Official says 7,000 travellers were vaccinated and issued polio certificates just between May 8 and May 12.

ISLAMABAD:

While already reeling under the existing patient load, Polyclinic Hospital is facing a further shortage of staff and space to effectively run its polio counter, set up to facilitate people planning to fly abroad.

While visiting the hospital, one could easily miss the tiny room next to the main entrance which has been designated for the purpose.

According to a senior hospital official, who wished not to be named, the room was earlier in the use of a man who used to work at the reception, but it had been unused for the last few months, therefore, it was designated to set up the polio counter to facilitate the travelers.

Though the room’s door carries a notice in small font that reads “International Vaccination Centre”, it lacks international standards, said the official, adding that the room was very congested and it did not even have space to keep a refrigerator for storage of vaccines.

According to a hospital official, the administration has kept the refrigerator in another room and the vaccinators have to walk across the floor all the time.

“On average, the hospital receives 100 to 150 [vaccination] patients, but between May 8 and May 12 alone, around 7,000 people were vaccinated and issued polio certificates,” said the official.

At the same time, no seating or waiting arrangements have been made outside the room. People either have to stand in the congested corridor, or wait outside in the hot weather.

“Due to suffocation, a 60-year-old man, who had come for vaccination, fell down yesterday and his head struck a wall, which needed treatment,” said the official, adding that the man had been waiting for “a few hours” in the corridor.

Besides, there was also a shortage of staff to vaccinate and issue certificates, said the official.

“Only two staff members are vaccinating and issuing certificates, and both of them are also working at a routine immunisation counter at the paediatrics department,” said the official.

He suggested that polio volunteers or Capital Development Authority (CDA) vaccinators be engaged to overcome the issue.

When contacted, an official at the CDA directorate of health services said that they were already facing a shortage of polio vaccinators and it was not possible for them to extend the needed services, even if asked.

Meanwhile, Polyclinic Spokesperson, Dr Tanveer Malik conceded that they were facing the problem but added that they will soon overcome the issue.

He said that the hospital was receiving a large number of people intending to go abroad from across the twin cities, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2014.