At a time when Delhi is facing the worst dengue outbreak in the last five years, the disease has not even spared doctors. The situation is so bad that at least 12 resident doctors contacted the deadly viral disease as well. Moreover, the authorities of city’s Safdarjung Hospital are failing to stop mosquito breeding inside its premises. Two patients, who were admitted in the hospital for surgery a few days back, are now suffering from dengue. Meanwhile, a minor succumbed to vector-borne disease at Sanjay Gandhi Memorial hospital taking the death toll to 31.
“If doctors are unwell, then who would treat patients,” said a senior resident doctor. He added that the hospital’s campus has numerous breeding sites for the killer aedes mosquito.
“The entire hospital campus including wards of the patients, OPDs are full of mosquito breeding sites. Till now, no action has been taken by the authorities yet,” said the doctor. Due to this, two patients who had come for operation and 12 doctors are suffering from dengue, he added.
The hospital is facing shortage of medical staff to deal with dengue patients, according to sources. So far, three people died due to the viral disease at Centre-run Safdurjung hospital. Earlier, The Pioneer had reported that NDMC had issued challan to the hospital for having the presence of aedes mosquito breeding spots.
“More number of people with fever and dengue symptoms visited the OPDs and Fever Clinics in the last 24 hours,” said a senior doctor and added that with the rains, the cases are likely to rise further. As per the corporation’s data, 31,94 dengue cases have been recorded till now.
However, over 2,000 dengue cases were reported just last week. Taking a serious note of the situation, the civic agencies have started intensive fogging drive as fresh showers have increased the fears of dengue cases flaring up in the coming days.
Till date, Ram Manohar lohiya hospital has recorded 1,065 suspected dengue cases and 748 confirmed cases of dengue. While, six people died till date at RMl, the emergency ward at AIIMS also received about 2,000 suspected dengue cases. Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry has issued an advisory to Delhi Government to “intensify” measures to check the breeding of mosquitoes.