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
It clearly shows the fear of Muslims inside the hearts of these Transgenders.
Pandey Kuch bhi..... no one can stop us from consuming beef. Better u and ur followers know it first that its Mangaluru not Dadri. U will not find here any Akhlaq so easily. This is mangaluru jus keep it ur mind
Is is the duty of SK police dept to take action on such anti national group. Hope they will do their duty sincerely by arresting all these anti national deshi drohi terrorist group.
Even they don't have manners,how to attend meeting or to face photographs.
If u really love your mother cow and born to one father ....STOP BEEF EXPORT then come on public stages
No one has forgotten and will never forget....if punished here , it vl be up to a limit, in sha allah one or the other day will reward the wrong doers .....
Oh chaddi anna.. indu dadri ath iregla gotthundu yenklegla gothundu :D hahaha joke malporchi a.. dayeg bhakterna mange malpwer niklu..
All local pakka Gundas, See their face Uneducated, Illiterate people.
All are drinks man....He go to bar eat beef nd drink alcohol... this is his daily routine
Comedy stage shows these unemployed youths are fooled and taken for a joy ride temporarily these people relish the taste of gowmatha please go to any restaurants which serve their lovely tasty gowmatha you will find the majority of visitors to taste their tasty gowmatha are the Hindus and the brahmins I know many brahmins who regularly eat beef so why this natak let these people first solve untouchability racism and inequality within their so called Hindu fold.
Dear Brothers & Sisters of Sanatana Dharma (Hindu),
Kindly keep informing always to your kids, brothers and sisters to stay away from these dangerous elements, now their main goal is to divide our beautiful and blessed India into many pieces like the dirty British/Zionist minded.
Mera Bharat Mahan, Jai Hind.
After the end of dussera. All fake pili gathered together for bread and butter. Every attendees will get INR 500 + Drinks.
BJP imported Advani from Pakistani for their party. All BJP should migrate to Pakistan under Sindh valley for better life.
All Dandapinda gathered together for their bread and butter.
If they are really worried for Cows. Why they don't come forward to stop beef exporting companies?
Because they knows that its run by RSS.
Mun main ram aur dil main kama
try it in mangalore....u will feel the difference and never even say the name cow from your mouths....ha ha....
stay where you are in your limited auqaad..if you cross the limits..then see
People born with land space and time. How can you send part all those things to Pakistan? You can send person to Pakistan but what about the land, space and time he was born with?
Required surgical strikes on all RSS, BD & VHP terrorist training camps in India. We need to keep our Indian land clean from those vermis.
Most of the RSS terrorist become politicians or join police force or become govt employees. May Allah destroy RSS terrorists and keep Muslims safe from them.
ahh, undu oltha posa piece batthini.
We need to send these goons to Nepal....no....I forgot Nepal is a secular country.....wow these goons have no country....
Bela ijjandina bakwaas,,,
Hindu religion is not your fathers property. Hindu religion is full of tolerance and humble . You goons are backed by RSS for their vote bank.
Can anyone talk about the fragrance of Hindusm or to solve hundreds of problems in Hindus., like dowry system , powerty, etc. etc. You people are doing all these functions just to make anti statement against Muslims.
Some of the muslim youth organization became strong because of you people; they are now well organized became strong to fight against you goons.
Somanath the beef exporter is waiting for YOU Guys .. Can you start with him..
Only FOOLS will not understand this old tactics ....
Who the hell are you people to send indians to pakistan or afghanistan... this actors pay tax in crores to our govt, have you chaddis ever paid a single penny to govt or done any good work to society, dont fool the innocent hindu brothers & sisters in the name of religion for your own benifit...... i think this fools bank account has become emty this days
Third class people,
look at there face, people of hell direct ticket.
Jai Hind ........ Bajrangdal Bandh
Moga nokoru......Manishathwa illathanga....inku Popular front rangame sama
Nachige illadavaru .....beligge horata ...rathre sex mathhu beef oota
Manipal Rape case ...soujanya rape case.... bhat sex scandal.... Yara udhharakkagi.....
Hindu ondu...Dalitaranna Kondu
Modi went to Pakistan without informing Indians
All are local goons.
WE WILL NOT FORGET,HELLO HALLI HIDA THIS NOT DADRI,WE MUSSLIM MANGALORE KARNATAKA ,IF YOU DARE DO THE DADRI IN MANGALORE..
Add new comment