BFUHS readies to tackle coronavirus, holds drill

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, January 28

Keeping in view the spread of coronavirus in countries across the Asia, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) on Tuesday held a drill to prepare for handling a coronavirus case at Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital here.

BFUHS Vice-Chancellor Dr Raj Bahadur said all hospitals should remain prepared to tackle this deadly outbreak of the virus. The aim of the mock drill was to brace up to fight the deadly coronavirus, which is spreading its tentacles in many countries across the Asia. We are testing the levels of preparedness of our isolation ward and the hospital staff through this mock drill.

The Faridkot medical college is a constituent of the medical university. This is the first mock drill to start preparations to check the spread of coronavirus in the state. Under the mock drill, a “patient” was admitted to the emergency ward of the medical college and hospital here and he was given the bed earmarked for a suspected coronavirus case.

The emergency medical officers and the resident doctors assessed the patient using all protective measures, including N-95 masks, during this drill. As the ‘patient’ was declared as a suspected coronavirus case after examination and assessment, he was shifted to 10-bed isolation ward in the medical college and hospital.

Medical college and hospital superintendent Rajiv Joshi said the staff, involved in the shifting of the “patient”, used all protective measures. He was given all necessary treatment and the process of diagnosis started with the collecting of samples. “We need to remain vigilant about this virus. We should also know how it affects the people, its prevention and its symptoms,” said Joshi.

The World Health Organisation’s standard recommendations for the general public to reduce exposure to and transmission of a range of illnesses are hand and respiratory hygiene and safe food practices. While coughing and sneezing, the mouth and the nose should be covered with flexed elbow or tissue. Throw tissue away immediately and wash hands; avoid close contact with anyone who has fever and cough; if you have fever, cough and face difficulty in breathing, you should seek medical care early and share previous travel history with your healthcare provider; the consumption of raw or undercooked animal products should be avoided.

Dr Raj Bahadur said any patient entering the hospital, the emergency ward or clinics with a fever or respiratory symptoms would be asked whether they had been to China recently. Patients affected with the virus would be placed in an isolation ward.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.