Medical centre equipped to handle heart patients
It's after the first month of ‘vrutha' that pilgrims from other states flow in en masse. Meanwhile, Chipsan is understood to be upset over the attitude of the Devaswom authorities in providing preferential darshan for the pilgrims this time. (Photo
Kochi: Lakhs of pilgrims, especially those hailing from neighbouring states, visiting the hill shrine of Sabarimala can avail of better healthcare facilities this time while negotiating the traditional trekking path even as the demand for a permanent full-fledged hospital at Pampa has become stronger.
“A modern medical centre with services of Allopathy, Homoeopathy and Ayurveda was opened at Pampa. The 20-bedded hospital has facilities like modern ICU equipped to handle patients in cardiology, dialysis unit, audiometry and pulmonary function test facility among others. More oxygen parlours will be opened on the Swamy Ayappan road with defibrillator for cardiac treatment equipped at 15 such parlours,” said Dr P.K. Jameela, director of health services.
Mobile medical units carrying emergency medicines, portable oxygen cylinder, glucometer and an automatic electronic defibrillator (AED) will be deployed at various points for the pilgrims ascending the steep Neelimala and Appachimedu hills along the Swami Ayyappan Road, she said.
This time around, the department would operate 12 ambulances from Pampa base camp besides those deployed by organisations like Amritha Hospital, KEMP and the like. “We already have a well-equipped health centre at Sabarimala where patients can be treated for acute injuries and appendicitis, and which has modern operation theatre with anaesthesia and emergency medicines,” the official said.
However, experts pointed out that all these facilities were at the best suitable for emergency conditions and hence there was need for a permanent full-fledged hospital at Pampa.
“All these facilities would be functional only during the pilgrimage season and are temporary in nature. Hence specialised services won’t be available even in the season. A critically-ill patient has to travel three hours from Sannidhanam (one hour by foot up to Pampa and two hours by vehicle to Pathanamthitta),” said Dr N.N. Murali, who was earlier in charge of the government hospital at Sannidhanam (Sabarimala).
The existing facility at Pampa needs to be converted into a general hospital with modern equipment and fully equipped ICUs and wards. It should remain functional throughout the year as thousands of devotees trek to Sabarimala during the first week of every month. Police personnel and other staff and workers are present at Pampa and Sabarimala during off-season too. An estimated 60 million pilgrims visit the hill shrine every year, he said.
“There are over 2,000 work force in Sabarimala as part of the preparatory works. This month itself, already three workers suffered grievous injuries. A worker engaged in painting ‘Valiyanadapandal’ slipped and fell from the heights. Another two came under the attack of wild boar. However, the medical centres will be functional from November 16 onwards only,” said a member of the Ayyappa Seva Sangham.
Meanwhile, Kerala High Court on Thursday asked the Chief Engineer (Road) to ensure that all roads leading to Sabarimala were motorable before the commencement of the Sabarimala festive season.
A division bench comprising Justice T.R. Ramachandran Nair and Justice P.V. Asha issued the directive and asked the authorities to take all steps to ensure proper service. The state said that vehicular traffic, including illegal parking, would be controlled. The court was considering a report filed by PWD special secretary R. Sreelekha Devi.
The PWD submitted that the government had convened a meeting of various departments as directed by the Chief Minister in connection with the Sabarimala pilgrimage. Ministers of Devaswom and Public Works attended the meeting along with all the concerned parties.
Out of the 17 roads leading to Sabarimala, 16 roads are under the control of PWD and one is under the Devaswom Board. The PWD further submitted that a total of Rs 19.99 crore was allotted for the repair works. More than 90 percent of the maintenance and repair works were promptly done.
The balance work, if any, would be completed within the commencement of the festival season. The court recorded the submission of the state government and ordered that the entire works would have to be completed before the commencement of the festival, the affidavit said. The PWD also said that flex boards had been removed from various places.
( Source : dc )
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