Srinagar, April 14 (KINS): With increasing COVID-19 cases, hospitals in Kashmir are ill-equipped to deal with crisis.
There has been surge in number of coronavirus cases and is nearing to touch 300 in Jammu and Kashmir.
At the same time, hospitals are not well equipped to deal with crisis.
Take instance Shar-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura. An official of SKIMS told KINS that there are only around 700 personal protection equipment kits available for patients, doctors, and other paramedics.
“Once PPE is used, it can’t be reused. We are short of PPEs. If we don’t get more PPEs, then there will be crisis situation in coming days. We are trying to use minimum PPEs. As there is increase in number of cases, we require a lot of PPEs to deal with crisis,” the official told Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).
However the official claimed that the shortage is worldwide and that authorities are on job to get more PPEs.
Similarly, another official said there are inadequate numbers of PPEs at other hospitals. “There is shortage of PPEs in all hospitals of Kashmir,” the official said.
The official said there is also shortage of ventilators. “There are very less number of ventilators available for COVID-19 patients,” the official told KINS.
As coronavirus has taking a heavy tool across the world, doctors, nurses, and paramedics are susceptible to catch virus in absence of PPEs.
A PPE kit consists of specialized clothing and devices — disposable masks, gowns, hoods, gloves, shoe covers, face shields and protective goggles — and must be worn by healthcare providers dealing with infectious diseases.
“Doctors are fighting this battle at the forefront but unfortunately government is not providing us proper protective gear,” a doctor at Shar-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura said.
One of the top government officials told KINS that they were on job to provide PPE to doctors and other medical staff, which is mandatory under present circumstances.
In Srinagar, several hospitals including SKIMS Medical College, Bemina, Chest Disease Hospital Srinagar, JLNM Hospital Srinagar have been converted into COVID-19 sanatorium to treat suspected patients. But the situation seems tough for doctors.
“Doctors have to treat patients but we have to protect ourselves first. We too have families. Who will like to go in a ward without proper protection gear where coronavirus suspected patients are kept?” a doctor at Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital Srinagar asked.
He said several doctors have been quarantined after coming in contact with coronavirus patients as former were not wearing proper protective gear.
Medical Superintendent SKIMS Soura Dr Farooq Jan admitted they have inadequate PPEs available. “But we are trying to provide best care to patients,” he said.
At least 16 patients have recovered and 04 have died in Jammu and Kashmir so far. Similarly, over 50,000 travellers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been put under surveillance which include 8581 persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 354 in Hospital Quarantine, 250 in hospital isolation and 30634 under home surveillance.
Meanwhile, government has advised people to avoid unnecessary visit to hospitals, in case anyone develops fever, cough and difficulty in breathing, seek medical advice promptly. In this regard, people should call on COVID-19 helpline numbers so that they can be provided correct medical advice and directed to the right health facility, if needed.(KINS)
