Kasaragod, Apr 19: Kasaragod, Kerala's COVID-19 hotspot, is the only district in the southern state lacking adequate health infrastructure.
In spite of treating the highest number of COVID-19 patients in the state with meagre infrastructural facilities and even without the support of a medical college in the north Kerala district, no deaths have been reported due to coronavirus.
The state health department views the performance of M Kunhiraman and his team, consisting of Janardhana Naik and Krishna Naik, at the General hospital in Kasaragod as a success story.
"Not only did they control the situation quickly with minimum infrastructure, they also started turning out a large number of negative cases within a few weeks and creditably ensured zero mortality.
This can be showcased as a best global model," Chairman of the Information Education and Communication (IEC) Committee and Project Director Kerala State Aids Control Society, R Ramesh said.
Recalling the ordeal, Janardhana Naik said his first major challenge was the physical examination of a patient with suspected COVID-19.
"Even with the PPE kit, nobody knew how effective they were and it took a whole 30 minutes to wear them properly.
But as time passed, we got accustomed to it," he said.
The traditional method of dealing with a patient involved knowing his or her history, observation and physical examination.
For hundreds of years, the hands-on body approach has been the soul of the doctor-patient relationship -- taking the pulse, tapping on and listening to the chest, feeling lumps.
With the onset of COVID-19 all that has changed.
"In fact, the whole exercise was fraught with grave risks because everything connected with COVID-19 was new.
Doctors have to keep a distance even though the physical examination wearing a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is difficult.
Sounds from the body are inaudible, vision is blurred through the smog-covered goggles and a stethoscope seldom has any use," Janardhana Naik said.
It was from March 15 that the hospital started receiving COVID-19 patients, primarily from Dubai.
By the time the first person came, the hospital was ready for him.
Soon, patient numbers began to swell and in a couple of weeks they reached about 91.
From then on, it was teamwork.
Committees were formed for each and every task, including the help desk, IT, treatment, medical board, training, food, waste disposal and data maintenance.
Initially, patients had many misgivings about the hospital.
"Some were disillusioned and even aggressive. Some were not happy with the facilities the hospital had to offer.
But gradually through good treatment and counselling by a psychiatrist, who visited the hospital on alternate days, the confidence and mood of the patients changed and they became friendly with the staff," Naik elaborated.
Counselling was also given to the concerned family members of the patients.
Besides treatment, the medical staff had to spend a considerable amount of time clearing the doubts of patients.
When they got discharged some patients insisted on seeing the faces of the medical staff, who till then were anonymous entities covered from head to toe.
Some even wanted to take selfies with them.
However, the medical team politely turned down their requests and preferred to remain hidden in their work attires.
The mood of the patients also rubbed off on the doctors and hospital staff.
All the physicians and hospital staff are now more confident of dealing with contagious diseases after treating COVID-19 patients.
"Our previous experience of treating H1N1, Chikungunya and Dengue cases helped us a lot.
Words of encouragement from the Health Minister K K Shailaja, Health Principal Secretary Dr Rajan N Khobragade and Health Services Director Dr Sarita R L gave us the impetus to build up confidence.
Moreover, the field health workers did a wonderful job in containing the viral spread," Naik added.
As the number of coronavirus cases rose, the state government on April 5 deputed a 26-member medical team from Thiruvananthapuram to set up a COVID-19 hospital in the district.
They turned a block of the under construction Government Medical College as a hospital-like facility, setting up a 200 bed facility to treat coronavirus patients.
Comments
Shame on Indian police for registering this kind of cases as even they know this has no basis in constitution.
they supported a cricket or sports team... even I supported UAE Team..I have my right to support any sports team..
PLEASE SEND SRI SRI RAVI SHANKER TO PAKISTANN PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEE
IF HINDHU SAY THAT IS NABOUR CONUTY
IF MUSLIM SAYS HE IS TERROR ACCHE DIN WHA WHA /.
Hope all have gone through below news about shouting slogan in favor of pakistan by Sri Sri ravi shankar ... why you people have not commented on that ....
Pakistan Zindabad....india belong to muslim they ruled for 1000 years, we will take back glory soon.
Mohan; Sharvan, Preethi, Meghana...
Please open your mind and dont fall trap over & over on cheddi media... if You try to accept whatever said in the media again & again even after knowing their LIES ... What should we call U guys...
Dont just make Howdu basava howdu ... for everything which is said in the media ...Use your God given intellectual and stop supporting the aggressor ... cos a day will come when the one who gave this life will account for our deeds done in this LIFE... So stop supporting the aggressor without true knowledge which U might regret later ... as many regretted after becoming voilence with a false statement from the cheddi leaders
Yes these students does not know about what they are talking.
They should be kept behind the bar.
By the way what happened to SRI SRI art of living Swamy who said Pakistan Zindabad??? is he arrested.??
Indians can support any country in any game but when any match is having indian team they should support only india.
@ MEHHNA , PREETHI ,SHARAVAN, MOHAN, KARTHIK ,,
YES WE NEED TO PUNISH THEM HARD , SEND THEM TO PAKISTAN.. EVERYTHING WE WILL DO WT U SAID
SRI SRI SRI RAVI SHANKER SHOULD GO TOGETHER WITH THEM, WE WIL BOOK 3 SEATS IN FLIGHT L
Constitution did not tell citizens to support only Indian team. There is no law saying that, then why on the hell police arrested those innocent people and under which law. In a democracy you have right to chose or support any one you want. Its not a big deal. Pakistan is not our enemy at all, Modiji without informing anyone met Nawaz Sharief, Pakistani PM. It happened because of our friendliness with that country.
I am a good supporter of our Indian team but it does not mean that I impose same on other fellow Indians too.
Grow up guys.
When SRI SRI Shankar said Pakistan Zindabad no action, no arrest,
when a muslim said he is arrested.
INCRIDIBLE INDIA ! WHERE SRI SRI CAN CALL PUBLIC MEETS ! STUDENT JUST TYPED IN WHATSAPP THEY ARE ARRESTED !!
WHEN IS SRI SRI ARREST ! ??????????????/////
if they raised slogans in favor of our arch rival, than take strict action against them. But Please don't touch Desh Bhakt like Ravi shanker !
Send Sri Ravishanker along with Two students from puttur to Pakisthan...Law should be equal for all.Do not bring religion in between.
there is no muslim commentors now ... these two terrorists must be kicked out of india along with their families ... soole maklige they want all benefits here and loyalty to pakistan ... no mercy for these animals .muslims here give big lecturer about religion , but they dont teach manners and basics for their community members .
Yes Mohan should send them pakistan with Ravi sankar...
DEAR PRO-CHADDIS.....
WILL YOU SEND ME SOUTH AFRICA AND ENGLAND IF I SUPPORT HASHIM AMLA AND MOEEN ALI?????
WHEN YOU WILL SEND SRI SRI RAVISHANKAR PAKISTAN FOR CHANTING PAKISTAN ZINDABAD???? WHY NO ACTION ON HIM????
serious action must be taken against them. india the country of peace loving and this type of people misunderstood us for being soft, one thing always should be on head that how much soft we are double to that we could be hard rock.
Pakistan zindabad is slogan of owaisi chaddis. not Bharath matha ki Jai
Now a days its common, need to give proper punishment next time they have to think hundred times before calling this.
both student must be sent to the pakistan, the two dogs of pakistan
me before india started batting: hahahaha we got this wtf pakistAN ZINDABAD
me now: we are brothers and sisters we both win in 1947.....
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