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.
K Shivaraj, a native of Mysuru and DKS Haleema Shaheen of Mangaluru met each other while studying at a college in Mangaluru and fell in love. After studies, the duo wanted to start a business and had even got their business project sanctioned by the Karnataka Udyog Mitra in 2014. They decided to enter the wedlock. After the girl faced stiff resistance from her parents, the duo eloped and exchanged nuptial vows at a temple in Mysuru in May 2015.
Comments
How do u all know them ?
Haleema you sold heaven and you purchased hell...
Islam teaches us 'A slave Muslim men is better for a Muslim girl than a rich kaafir . Same way a slave Muslim women is better for a Muslim men than a rich kaafira women'
There is no compulsion in religion of islam. We are free to follow any system but final decision with Allah, He will decide who followed his way or who are the loser. May Allah guide us to right path. Ameen
SEE HER FACE, CAN UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION,VIREN YOU ARE RIGHT BUT A SENTENCE IS WRONG SHE WENT FROM BRIGHTNESS TO DARKNESS.
I agree with Fathima's view. It was unfortunate that the girl in the name of love forgot the beauty of Islam.
There are many instances in Mangalore where Muslim girl married a Hindu boy and after a year boy converted to Islam. No wonder if this culminates the same way. Moreover u will find hundreds of famous personalities embracing Islam such as Tony Blair's sister Lauren booth, BBC journalist Yvonne Ridley and so on but u will not find vise versa. Keep hope and prayers and ignore barking kotians.
Let us pray for kotiyan brightness family !!....May Allah protect your family & children in future .... There is chance to convert !
Every Say Ameeen!
Kotiyan Nikk P---Tiye Yaa\\"\"\"\"\"n"
mr kotian do u know how many hindu married muslims converted to islam and workind in uae you study well about islam and later on u will also change
mr kotian do you know how many hindu men who married to muslim converted to islam and working here in dubai, first study about islam and later on u wil change your mind
mr kotian do you know how many hindu men married muslim converted to muslim again and working here in dubai study first about islam then you will also come to islam There is no caste system in islam like brahman harijan etc
No need to judge anybody. Only Allah knows whats the future and how their end will be. It may be good and wonderful than we expect. Better than our life may be, nobody knows. So keep hope . If possible pray for them and dont judge.
Viren @ its opposite its to dark from brightness and secondly its her parent to blame , they didnt teach her what is islam .
Viren chadi by name only we cant judge chadi,its should come through Heart.
Just wait for 3 to 4 month, he will leave her .
i like it ... i like it ... Jai sri ram ... as Viren bhai said ,.. inshallah it will happen soon .. too much of compression and male domination in islam... they treat women as property not as human being ... i heard that shivraj rejected haleema's fathers offer of crore rupees inexchange of his daughtor ... it means guy has not married this gal for money sake .. true love ... they must be protected as they might get attacked from Islamic thugs from coastal ...hahaha... this is just the begining ... there are lakhs of muslim women who want to escape from this sikka patte piece ful religion ...
We as an Indian should be united but look what always we see partitioned. no wonder how easily British invaded India.
I know some of them are happy seeing this news. And i admit it is because of your ignorance you are happy. Almighty has his own concept of human life n death. There are 4 categorised people.
1. Ones who r born muslim and dies as a muslim
2. Ones who r born muslim and dies as a non muslim.
3.Ones born as anon muslim and dies as a non muslim.
4.Ones born as a non muslim and dies as a muslim.
Last category people are the most successful people in this world and hereafter no doubt about it. 2nd category people are the ones destroying their own destiny and lands in great trouble hereafter. No one neither their life-partner nor their parents can save them from torments of hell fire.
May Allah make our death beautiful and grant us to die as a muslim.
May Allah guide her n all of us.
@ viren kotian
quran, islam never force anyone to covert to islam.. in quran Allah says tell the truth to them until they understand the truth
even after that they don't want to accept the islam its up to them.. its our responsibi
Thank you CD for this wonderful news.
And Yes, Viren we all are there with this brave woman. no terrorist can touch her.
Insha Allah more muslim girls will throw away their burkas and accept hinduism in future..
Mr viren ur wrong,,,,, from the brightness to darkness,,,,
Welcome to the light from the darkness Ms haleema. We are with you! hahahah Lol Lol Lol..
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