CUTTACK: With more cases of swine flu being reported from different parts of the State, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Pramod Kumar Meherda on Friday inspected the facilities for the patients in SCB Medical College and Hospital here and Capital Hospital at Bhubaneswar. Three more deaths and 12 new positive cases were reported on Friday, taking the toll to seven in just a week.
Meherda inspected SCBMCH’s 16-bed special isolation ward located between diarrhoea and skin departments and also examined the 40-bed isolation ward, which was opened on Thursday for treatment of swine flu patients. The isolation ward in the eye department building was meant for treatment of dengue patients but considering the rise in number of H1N1 patients, SCBMCH authorities converted it to treat swine flu patients and shifted the dengue ward to trauma care building.
Later, Meherda conducted a review meeting with authorities of SCBMCH and enquired about the available facilities. After being apprised of the problems, Meherda sanctioned `3 crore for immediate procurement of all necessary equipment, including 20 ventilators, monitors, ICU beds, suction machines among other things for full-fledged functioning of the two swine flu wards.
“We are taking steps on a war-footing to procure all necessary equipment with available funds within five to seven days through an immediate tender process,” said SCBMCH Superintendent Shyama Kanungo.
As on Friday, as many as 15 swine flu patients were undergoing treatment at SCBMCH.
Emergency measures
16-bed special isolation ward functional in SCB Medical College and Hospital
A 40-bed isolation ward opened on Thursday
The isolation ward, which was previously meant for dengue patients, being used for swine flu due to rise in number of cases
As many as 15 swine flu patients were undergoing treatment at SCBMCH