NCDC to send reagents, chemicals to SKIMS lab

Tribune News Service

Srinagar/Jammu, February 26

The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), New Delhi, will send reagents and chemicals for Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) laboratory to enable it to conduct tests of at least 500 H1N1 suspect patients.

“The NCDC has agreed to send reagents to the state’s only H1N1 testing laboratory after Governor NN Vohra’s intervention,” said Dr Farooq Jan, SKIMS Medical Superintendent.

The Centre deputed an expert team to Jammu and Kashmir to assess the H1N1 situation and provide technical support and guidance for public health measures.

The team comprised Dr NS Dharamshakti, Additional Director General, Emergency Medical Relief Division, Directorate General of Health Services, and Dr SK Jain, Joint Director, National Centre for Disease Control.

A total of 1,242 patients were seen in Kashmir and 291 in Jammu today. The Governor apprised Union Health Minister JP Nadda earlier this week about immediate requirements for dealing with H1N1.

Nine more persons were found to be H1N1 positive today, taking the number of infected cases in the Valley to 181. A total of 195 patients were seen today at SKIMS and two discharged. Institute spokesperson Sana Kulsoom said no death was reported at the hospital in the last 48 hours.

“We have found nine fresh H1N1 suspect cases whose swab samples were sent for testing. Eleven patients were admitted to the hospital, of which one was critical,” she said.

It was stated in the review meeting in Jammu that 9,092 patients had been seen so far in the OPDs of the two medical colleges and various hospitals of the state.

Fifty health employees were vaccinated today. Dr Nissar-ul-Hassan, Doctors Association of Kashmir president, said the vaccination of all doctors was mandatory. He urged health officials to arrange vaccination of doctors at all hospitals.

Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital, the Chest Diseases Hospital and other health institutions where H1N1 suspects were being treated did not have any vaccine stock.

“It is obligatory to immunise health workers to prevent medicare system disruption. Vaccination of workers will build trust in patients and they will feel safe,” said Dr Hassan.