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
\Hindutva activists raid Thomas School...\" is wrong caption
It should be, \"Hindutva Goondas Attack Thomas school ....."
Why you call these raid, Raid can only be done by government servants.
This is called Gondagiri, what the hell police is doing, arrest them.
I think as per this English should be banned as the language belongs to England.
If learning or teaching was illegal they would've spoke to the head master, or filed a case against the school.
For muslims ARABIC is first language, its the mother of all language.
hahaha look at their face and their dressing style! Their presence itself shows they are uneducated goons.. Hardly one or two guys may be passed 7th standard. All poor hindu guys are running up and down in search of arabic classes and gowmootra.. Upper class are enjoying every position in all indutries.. Poor guys.. Lage Raho..
Hi all the people of Mangalore,
Who r these people who haven't seen the steps of school and wanna dictate what is to be taught and what not? There are education boards set up for all these purposes. Where is Mangalore heading? Who has brainwashed these people? First those people should be acted as per law who leads such goons irrespective of religion? How can U expect a place to develop when U don't have a mindset for broader vision and tolerance? Anyone who speaks against some party becomes Anti national!!!
V r giving more important to Cows than Humans. If people of Mangalore unite at such circumstances, then law cannot be taken into hands by any groups, irrespective of religion. It's high time that we unite against such shameful acts.
Expats including non-muslims in gulf countries would have craved for knowing Arabic in their childhood because they know that they can have edge over others and would have got better pay in gulf. These people do not understand this. They are struck with some bad mindset which makes them to oppose anything associated with Muslims. It is difficult to learn a language later in life especially Arabic.
Uneducated goons don't know the value of languages..... moreover why sanskritbis taught in school....
Go maataas are in need of these sons in Gujarat where dalits stopped work.....go and serve the Go.......let's see how many patriots nationals from chaddi Canara sena will go....
Saffron TERRORISTS, not activists.
Many non muslim working in ARAB AND ISLAM Country for job purpose they have to learn ARABIC language and also english is foreign language are going to stop english language in school or in colleges this SRS are un educated so they fight ....
Arabic is an international laungage spoke widely in many countries. There are many million Christians , jews and other non Muslims for whom Arabic is mother tongue. In every gulf countries lakhs of non Muslim join Arabic language courses to get promotion in their jobs. In Kerala there are non Muslim Arabic teachers. These narrow minded uneducated ravan sena are defaming our district and country by their criminal acts. Law should take stern action against these anti social elements
Nayig yenchina gottu Limbeda uppad
These SRS goondas should know that, it was not compulsory.... Those who do not want to learn, they are free to keep away.... so, what is the issue ????? Look at the Words , that are taught, which are useful in daily life... like bank, airport, box, gooda angadi.... these are useful to those work in Gulf.... Bopanna KSA can throw some light on this issue.... Those who are interested , let them learn, others can SHUT UP...
RSS IS ONLY GOOD FOR THESE TYPES OF THINGS...
LET THEM SAVE THEIR MATHA COW IN ROAD FIRST...
should have banged arabic preacher :
these teachers dont have any other work, small children hardly study their 6 subject... in between arabic and other language to their head.
this unpaid shiva sena activists dont know the value of learning new things.
Add new comment