While three patients from the district have succumbed to Swine flu so far the district hospital has received one more suspect on Wednesday morning. The people say that the awareness drive is yet to be launched despite the spread of the disease.
It is learnt that the out- patient department of the Harmilap district hospital has received a suspected Swine flu patient on the day. Speaking to The Pioneer, the senior physician at the hospital Dr Sandeep Tandon said, “We have given Tami flu to the patient asked him to be in constant touch with us. Besides, we told him about the precautions he has to take. He has been further asked to come to the hospital after three days. His condition is not that serious.”
The doctors claimed that no Swine flu suspect had visited the hospital over the past three days. The deputy CMO Dr H. D Shakya said while talking to The Pioneer, “Till date, three patients from Haridwar have died in Dehradun while undergoing treatment for Swine flu. The situation is under control. The patients are being treated. We are alert.”
Dr Mohit Chaudhry of integrated child development services in the district hospital admitted that in spite of proactive measures being taken, two to three Swine flu-related deaths are reported every year. “Efforts are being made to integrate the Ayush centre with the allopathic centre so as to help the patient to strengthen his immune system through Ayurvedic concoctions which have no side effects. Allopathic medicines act effectively when the body’s immunity is strong,” he added.
The locals, however, say that the district hospital doctors are not taking the fever cases seriously. As per the refrain running among them, the required tests are carried out when the condition of the patient turns serious. Rajni Chabra of Kankhal said that her sister had died due to the same negligence. “She visited the district hospital. But the delay in diagnosis led to her death at Jollygrant Hospital,” she complained.