#NewDelhi: Union Health Minister Mr J P Nadda has increased the designated beds for H1N1 (swine flu) influenza patients by three times in central government hospitals, as compared to last year.With a dip in temperature, the Union Health Ministry’s concern over swine flu has grown.
Starting with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), the ministry has directed all heads of clinical departments and units in AIIMS to augment isolation bed capacity for H1N1 patients. “It has been decided to earmark C6 ward as the designated isolation ward for management of swine flu patient with effect from December 1, 2015 where 25 beds in five cubicles with five beds each will be made operational for the purpose in a phased manner as per actual requirement,” Dr D K Sharma, Medical Superintendent, AIIMS said.
Phased manner
“In addition, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds capacity for swine flu patients will be augmented by re-arming two isolation rooms in AB8 ICU, eight ICU beds in C-2 ICU and eight ICU beds in pulmonary medicine ward in a phased manner as per actual requirement,” he said.
To take stock of the situation and preparedness on H1N1 influenza, Nadda held a high-level meeting of senior officials from the Health Ministry, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and directors of central government hospitals in Delhi like Safdarjung Hospital, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and Lady Hardinge Hospital on Wednesday.
Nadda has asked the officials to ensure that they have adequate quantities of stock of oseltamivir, viral diagnostic kits, viral transport media, personal protective equipment and N-95 masks, at different levels in the health care system.
Currently, the number of isolation beds and beds with ventilator are 68 and 40 respectively in Safdarjung Hospital while RML Hospital has 47 isolation beds and 25 beds with ventilator. Lady Hardinge Hospital has designated 25 isolation beds and 14 with ventilator. While in AIIMS, there are 25 isolation beds and 15 with ventilator facility.
The number of diagnostic centres has increased from 21 to 34 in the country while diag-Shadow of swine flu again nostic capacity of labs has been doubled in Delhi.
As health workers are also susceptible to catch the infection, health workers of the hospitals have been vaccinated.
A seven-day workshop was organised to provide training regarding ventilator management to master trainers from various states. Approximately, 70 master trainers have been trained from 13 states. Besides this, a control room has also been set up, which is functioning in two shifts on working days and in one shift during holidays.
There is an outbreak of the infectious disease in Iran that has already killed 33 people. Surveillance at the airports has already been increased to check any spread in India.
In Rajasthan, swine flu cases have touched 6,791 since the start of this year while toll till October 19 touched 459. Delhi has also witnessed at least six cases in the season.
India had reported 937 cases and 218 deaths from swine flu in 2014. By mid-February 2015, the reported cases and deaths in 2015 had surpassed the previous numbers.
The total number of laboratory-confirmed cases crossed 33,000 mark with the death of more than 2,000 people. Every year, there was a rise in a number of cases and deaths during winter as temperature affects virus.
Epidemic
During 2014-15, winters, there was a spurt in cases at the end of 2014.
In 2015, the outbreak became widespread across India. On February 12, 2015, Rajasthan declared it an epidemic .by today groups & Agencies
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