Nagpur: Swine Flu has claimed 38 lives in the State and around 193 samples have been confirmed positive. Almost 58 per cent of these patients are in Nagpur alone. The district surgeon has been appointed as nodal officer and the number of beds in the swine flu ward has been increased from 30 to 45 in order to check the spread of the H1N1 virus.
The decision of distributing over 5 lakh pamphlets to generate awareness about the disease has also been taken, informed guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule in a press conference on Monday.
A meeting was held at the divisional commissionerate on Monday under the chairmanship of Bawankule to discuss measures to bring swine flu under control.
The meeting was attended by divisional commissioner Anup Kumar, director of medical education and research department Dr Pravin Shingarey, general health department director Dr Satish Pawar, district collector Abhishek Krishna, MLA Dr Milind Mane, municipal commissioner Shravan Hardikar and others.
Hospitals to submit daily reports
Bawankule informed that swine flu has claimed 22 lives in the city and 90 patients have tested positive. To keep a tab on the disease, the district surgeon has been appointed as the nodal officer and all hospitals, whether government or private, will have to report to him every day before 5 pm.
The nodal officer will compile all reports and submit a daily report to the guardian minister, municipal commissioner, district collector, divisional commissioner and the mayor.
Five lakh pamphlets to be distributed
Five lakh pamphlets educating people about the do’s and dont’s to prevent swine flu will be distributed in the city. The pamphlets will also have contact numbers in case of suspected patients.
15 more beds for swine flu ward
The number of beds in the swine flu ward of the GMC will be increased from 30 to 45 and will further be increased to 60 next year. In the meeting, it was decided that the district planning commission will release a `2 crore fund for the same.
IMA, NIMA instructed
Pawar further informed that the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the National Integrated Medical Association (NIMA) have been instructed to take simple flu and fever seriously and have also been asked to classify patients in A,B,C category.
Ambulance 108 for swine flu service
A suspected swine flu patient can get immediate medical aid by dialing 108, on the basis of which, a well-equipped ambulance will be sent to the patient wherever he is. The ambulance will be equipped with a ventilator and all necessary medicines including Tamifu which will help the doctors treat the patient well.
Patients with flu, fever must take special care
Dr Pawar opined that those already suffering from flu and fever should take special care. They must consult doctors and undertake the test for swine flu if need be. Dr Pawar informed that if a patient gets medical aid within 48 hours, he stands a very strong chance to recover completely.
Enough medicines for next three months
Dr Pawar informed that the GMC has enough medicines to treat swine flu patients for the next three months. Looking at the patients in January, ample medicines were ordered and the GMC currently has 1,80,000 tablets of Tamiflu.
Three mobile hospitals
Municipal commissioner Shravan Hardikar informed that the NMC has sought help from 10 zones in the matter and have planned three mobile hospitals in the city to administer medicines to patients.
Late diagnosis kills 15 patients
Dr Pawar made a shocking revelation that 15 patients had to lose their lives in the city because private doctors diagnosed the disease late and administered medicine too late.