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
Best Decision?? how do u know ?? How can you tell that??
Happy Married Life
hahaha.. sorry yaaro odihodlu antha burnol and itch guard haakolllodakke naavenu jihadi gala ... we are now enjoying surgical strikes on mini pakistanis ... kushi ge yenne hodeyodralle busy weekend nalli ... saw indian channels , in almost all channels ...Jihadis and burqas ninthonkondu modi na baiyyodu nodidre gottagate ,burnol and itch guard yelli jaasthi agide antha gottu ...
neo converts are used by ISIS to wage Jihad , namge worry irodu ashte ... its two way process kanree ... even last week i saw 2 muslim gals leaving piece ful religion towards hinduism and christianity ...
abbu beary samadhana kanappa ... nin kashta artha agatte ... rashtradrohi kelasa nodi ... police and NIA involve age agatte ...yevano jayanthi anthavne kanrappo ... jayanthi annodu hoge haaksi kondavrige kanappa ... swalpanadru general knowledge beku .. madrasa product antha gottagi biduthe ...hhahaha...adakke bere 6 liikings , it proves madrasa education yaav level ge antha ...
Naren Kotian
You have mistaken Sanathan Dharma. We are the true followers of Sanathan Dharma which prohibits Idol Worship.
We recite Gayathri mantra 17 times in our prayer. Rigveda 3-62-10
It is the first chapter of the Quran.
It has to be logically from One Supreme Creator who has no Image. Creator who is unlike His creations. Understand the Truth. Study your scriptures learn sanskrit come back to the Truth.
Because Truth is going to succeed and falsehood is bound to perish
She has come back to the Sanatan Dharma
Happy married life for couple. Burnol+ itch guard to naren Singapore.
Best decision from her side, congrats
Naren bhai ... u have mistaken !!!! The picture what cd published here is her old picture when she was a piece , in sha allah we can see a peacefull picture of her in the future with the hijab
MADHUVE JAYANTI FOR BOTH...AND BURNOOL JAYANTI FOR CHADDIS.
If Muslim girl elopes with Hindu boy, police intervene to unite them. Here, the case is vice versa and the same police are separating the couple. What a tragedy.
her t shirts speaks alot she left peaceful religion( sanatan dharma) and joined piece piece religion :) hahaha ... not a loss,its two way process ... but NIA must track these guys becoz converts are used in ISIS .We know 21 neo converts joined ISIS from kasragod . there is chance of waging jihad against own country
This love, staying with a girl before marrieage, and dont know the islam , Quran and hadith. Simply enjoying in duniya is not the behaviour of true muslim. They are spoiling their life here and here after even took birth in muslim family and have a name of muslim. and also they are spoiling the name of our muslim community. Our prophet Muhammad(PBUH) Said, a Muslim sweeping lady is better than other non muslim girls to marry.
made for each other.
let them lead their life. good or bad finally they are the one who suffer.
giving birth , giving education , love and everything by the parents and finally the girl is saying that i don't want parents and the boy who poses like Salman Khan is her choice.
she will repent one day.
at the moment let them both enjoy....
Wher is my comment?why you do not posted my comments?is there any mistake is there? please CD dont show double standeard becouse im one of the reguler reader..
This is the result of advanced tech. Parents has to check their all mobile no.s which has fake names i.e real boys name as girl's name (dummy) and incoming calls blocked by lovers. Only user will unlock during parents absence.
parents are not much educated enough to the effect of Facebook and whatsapp. If you want to provide phone to your children give them simple phone where they can not download illicit apps
May Allah (SWT) guide the couple with hidaayah!!! We should not blame them. Islam is not dependable. Enough preacher for Islam.
Congratulations Girl for the best decision.
Police dept to call both both parents with them and discuss face face and try to solve with in their limit and both elders satiso actiso action.
Interference of any dirty criminal groups, anti Indian groups or any communal mind political leader or their organized goonda group department must take strict action and send them behind bar at least for one year period for igniting communal tension.
Trust this will spoil all trouble makers intention and their political benefit gains.
irrespective of religion all middle class citizens are suffering with present red currency exchange procedures. In between communal mind politicians creating problem and planning communal tension is not faith.
God will never accept thought.
Jai Hind!
Well she should not be blamed it is bcoz of unproper teaching if she know teachings it would not had happened
Congratulations to the couple, leave in peace, take care of each other.
we respect all the religions, but above all it's love. loving each other is more important than anything else. They have won the love, may god bless you, LOVE IS GOD.
Cute Couples, happy married life to both.
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