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.
The injured have been identified as Ohijul Sikdar (32) and Tamsorali, both were part of a group of labourers from Assam. Among them Sikdar was seriously injured when a gang of 10 activists pushed him, and hit his head, back and limbs. He was lying on the road unconscious by the time police reached the spot.
Comments
Why cant we call them Bajrangdal Terrorists??
WHEN MODI TOOK POWER IN CENTRAL, TILL NOW THERE IS NO SECURITY FOR THE MINORITY, AND NOW HE IS SILENT ON MINORITY ATTACKS ALL OVER IN INDIA.
THERE ARE MUCH MORE EVIDENCE TO BAN RSS, BD, VHP.....
Good.. Let world see ur real face..
Very shame...shame , no humanity very cruelty
These goons should be banned from society....if they have problem they should inform police...now police should punish them severely so that they should not take law in their hands in future.....
WHA WHA WHA THEY START NOW BEC BJP GOVERMENT PASSED ALREADY 2 YEAR ,
NOW THEY START EVERTHING ATTACHK TO INNOCENT THIS ALLL ACCHE DIN FROM MODHI SAARKAR
PEOPLE KILLED FOR COW , OTHER COUNTRY PEOPLE LAFGING IN INDIANS , WE ARE WORKING IN MIDDLE EAST THEY ARE ASKING US
HUMAN KILLED FOR COW WHAT TYPE OF COUN TRY IS INDIA SHAME ON US AND OUR MODHI GOV
Govt should spare no time in arresting the leaders of the terrorist organisatins to brutually attacked inidans from other states. These terrorists have no right to be called as Indians as they have no respect for the co-Indians. Shame on your Hindutva terrorists. Govt should ban these terrorist organisations and kick out their leaders out of Indian mainland. Hoswever, i am sorry to say that no Govt will take that step. Instead of arresting the terrorists i doubt that innocents migrants will be arrested and punished for no fault of theirs.
These so called Hindu activists are doing too much goondasm throughout the country. These people should be booked as terrorists.
Send this Bajrangis to Andaman on one way ticket and never to return to mainland
Add new comment