Wheelchair, stretchers used as beds as Covid cases rises in the city

  • | Thursday | 8th April, 2021

The coronavirus situation in Bharuch district has become alarming over the past couple of weeks with hospitals, government and private, witnessing a heavy influx of Covid-19 infected patients. So much so, at some hospitals, Covid-19 patients are being given primary treatment on stretchers, wheelchairs and even in the hospital waiting rooms, due to lack of beds in the Covid wards.

The coronavirus situation in Bharuch district has become alarming over the past couple of weeks with hospitals, government and private, witnessing a heavy influx of Covid-19 infected patients. So much so, at some hospitals, Covid-19 patients are being given primary treatment on stretchers, wheelchairs and even in the hospital waiting rooms, due to lack of beds in the Covid wards.

Al-Mehmood General Hospital, run by a trust at Jambusar, 50km from Bharuch, is one such hospital which is flooded with Covid-19 patients. Doctors here said that they have no other option but to treat the patients on a wheelchair, stretcher or in the waiting room as all 90 beds in the hospital have been occupied. Nearly 50% of the beds are occupied by Covid-19 infected patients.

A video of patients on oxygen support taking treatment on wheelchairs and stretchers went viral on social media on Wednesday.

According to Dr Ajwad Khanya, administrator of Al-Mehmood General Hospital confirmed that at least six patients were given treatment in the common area of the hospital due to non-availability of beds. “The patients needed medical support so on humanitarian grounds our medical and paramedical staff started treatment at the best available places in the hospital,” said Khanya.

Dr Sueb Mukardamwala, a physician at the hospital said, “Number of Covid patients are coming from the interior villages of Jambusar. But our hospital has only one oxygen tank and four ventilators. It is an alarming situation that so many patients are getting infected and are coming to the hospital. We are soon starting a 25-bed covid centre in nearby town Amod.”

Bharuch health office (epidemic) Dr Nilesh Patel said that about 625 Covid-19 positive patients are under treatment in government and private hospitals in the district.

“A total of 1,332 beds are reserved for covid patients of which 366 are with Bharuch Civil Hospital and ESIC Hospital at Ankleshwar. Around 142 coronaviruse infected patients are in government hospitals and 483 in private hospitals,” said Patel.
“We still have 700 Covid beds available. We are putting in our best efforts. The situation is becoming worse and in days to come mass awareness programmes will be undertaken urging all to take precautions,” he added.


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