Health workers remained busy in tackling Covid, black fungus & dengue

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 27

Like last year, Health Department this year also remained busy throughout the year tackling the Covid-19 pandemic. Many highs and lows were witnessed during the year and the department and hospitals in the district, be it private or government, remained busy with Covid patients. Then, mucormycosis also hit hard amid the shortage of required injections for treatment. When Covid cases started subsiding, the district was stung by dengue and again health care personnel were busy in handling emergencies arising due to dengue. Many new facilities were added to the healthcare infrastructure, keeping in view the third wave.

Highs

Two million Covid jabs: Ludhiana district administered 2 million Covid jabs by August 31. Of the 2 million doses, the last half-million people were administered the vaccine in only 30 days.The target of first one-million jabs was achieved on June 22, 2021, and the next half-million doses was achieved on August 1, 2021.

New oxygen plants: Keeping in view the oxygen requirement during Covid, a new pressure swing adsorption (PSA) oxygen plant was installed at the Christian Medical College and Hospital, Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib (C) Hospital, 1,000 LPM each at ESI Hospital and Civil Hospital, and 500 LPM at Urban Health Centre, Vardhman.

Paediatric covid care ward at Civil Hospital: A paediatric Covid care ward has been set up at the Civil Hospital. The ultra-modern paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) has five PICU units and eight multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MISC) beds in it.

Treatment within Golden period: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-funded project was started on September 4 for timely intervention for heart attack. It is a major initiative to save precious lives from heart attack by starting treatment within the golden period. Under the project, the drug Tenecteplase used to dissolve blood clots in the heart is given free of cost to the patients at 11 centres.

Post-Covid clinic: A post-Covid clinic started at Hero DMC Heart Institute. It catered to the rising number of patients who have recovered from Covid-19. The clinic helped those who suffered from mid and long-term persistent effects of the infection. The clinic helped to address health issues faced by patients who have recovered from the virus.

Lows

Covid cases: On May 1, Ludhiana recorded the highest single-day spike of 1,600 cases and highest of 30 deaths were reported on May 10. In 2020, the highest number of cases reported in a single day were 438 cases and highest deaths reported in a single day were 18. In September this year, 26 students in total tested positive for Covid, which was highest in the state.

Mucormycosis scare: Amid Covid, Ludhiana was hit hard by mucormycosis as well. By the end of the year, 161 cases were reported from Ludhiana hospitals, of which 88 belonged to Ludhiana and 73 were from other districts or states. Nineteen persons lost their lives, of which eight were from Ludhiana and 11 from other districts or states.

Dengue stings Ludhiana: This year, the district recorded 2,862 dengue cases, the highest in the past four years. Of these 1,829 patients belonged to Ludhiana while 1,033 were from other districts or states.

Hospitals were asked to reserve beds for dengue patients and again hospitals were full to the brim due to dengue.

Strike by NHM employees: Nearly 2,000 employees working under the National Health Mission, Accredited Social Health Activists and outsourced employees of the VRDL labs in the district went on a strike in December, which led to slowing down of works of the Health Department amid the pandemic. The protesting employees were demanding regularisation of their jobs and increase in their salaries.

Strike by nursing staff hits patients: NHM employees were already on strike and amid this, the regular nursing staff also went on a strike in December. Patients at the Mother and Child Hospital and Civil Hospital faced a tough time due to the strike by the staff nurses. Patients were referred to either Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, or the CMCH and no C-section deliveries were conducted by the hospital during the time of the strike.

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