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.
“Go home and worship your manhood,” he exhorted the Hindu men while addressing a gathering at Jambusar in Bharuch district to induct fresh blood into the saffron outfit on Friday.
Comments
Hindus population could have raised to bit more if Modi, Praveen Togadiya, Mutalik, Sadhvi and other hate mongers could have married.
How our friend in Singapore, is tolerating, when he is branded as IMPOTENT..... When feku Modi is going to take these classes
Go and give your product to Mr. Narahantak Modi first.
Calling hindu men impotent for selling his product. new strategy of marketing...
Calling hindu men are impotent for selling his product....new marketing strategy.. nw wherever he go he will sale his viagra by spitting venom
Muslims has good quality sperm than Hindu, because we believe in one God. If Hindu needs sperm to increase their population, we are ready to supply for free.
Har Ghar main hoga bacha apna
Person who couldn't prove in potency is preaching and marketing his product... he he he
fog out from well
We are already 1.5 Billions....oh my God this stupid is giving wrong idea for hindus....instead he could help securing jobs and education for underprivileged people since their own party BJP is in power.....and is trying to take our country towards ignorance, poverty, illiteracy...
By this kind of speech no improvement will come in to Hindu community but all Hindu girls and women definitely think about the Hindu youths if they are unfit to be with a lady than what is the use of madicine
What a Fantastic Minded man, looks his Brain lost his control, You Bull of the Gate, You need Help to Increase your RSS Population Just a Shout we are here to help, afterword's do not tell \Love Jihad\" once falls Love there is no RSS,Bajji or Ranggi there is Male, Female Master Thogadaia Annanna, Why all these your Counter Partner Master Naraen Gangasara no teach you, we Trained Master Naraen he passed in Distinction level. Do not worry Thogadianna we are here for that, no worries even in Bullet Train or Aeroplane we help you to Produce more and more!!!!!!!!!!
You look like a Watch men in a Appartement, be smart Handsome look then only opposite Gender Love you Master Thogadia, In this stage Looking your Face Like Ugly Baboon no one will not Like you Master, be care otherwise all these Bangali Goons will pick up all go like Gentle Man.
Call us we are awaiting.
Jai Hoo Moidanna
Jai Hoo Hindustan."
IS TOGADIA, the hate monger, Married?
Yaa rabbe... ee report oditt nande nombu poyithaant nakk doubt aayo undu.
Our system is so impotent that Police cannt arrest Togadia. Why? Togadia is against Modi. Deliberately he given dis statement just to harm Namo
This is an attempt by NaMo govt to distract attention of meida from its failure
If impotent Indian media can cover d Charlie Hebdo cartoon or only fight with soft ones i.e Sakhi Maharaj,Togadia,VHP,Bajrang?
Who unable to produce children calls others to make more children who already have enof childrens...! He prepared Indian Viagra for others unfortunately doesnt work for him.
If you have courage marry a women and taste the family life instead of teaching others which is can't do by yourself.
The chemicals in plastic cause male impotence. Plastic water bottles being the biggest source.
It is a huge leap to link a decline in population growth to impotency - what evidence does he have to support such outrageous claims? Chances are that the size of families is being limited by deliberate choice, and not physical fertility problems. Anyone with such a mentality should not be allowed to breed at all!
LOL. Here is another...... But No outrage ?
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