KOZHIKODE: All have lauded the timely and active intervention of the state and health department in containing Nipah and Kozhikode Medical College Hospital's (KMCH) metamorphosis to Nipah Isolation Centre was the core of this preparedness. Even before the official confirmation of Nipah came from the Pune Virology Institute on May 20, the decision to set up an Isolation ICU was taken. Soon, an Isolation ward was set up. "Initially, the facility was only at Institute of Chest Diseases (ICD) at KMCH and the ICU was set up there," says KMCH Superintendent Dr K.G Sajith Kumar.
As cases began to pour in and the virus claimed more lives, it was clear that Nipah will test the efficiency of our health care system. But the health department rose to the occasion and the payward block was converted into a Isolation Centre with 50 wards set up in just 36 hours. "A safety protocol was decided for all the staff. from doctors to the cleaning staff. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was worn. Round the clock power was ensured in the wards. All other patient care except emergency cases were cut off," said a senior doctor who is part of the team. The ground floor of the payward is being used for the NiV positive cases and the second floor for suspected cases. The suspected cases sent from various health centres were first checked at the separate fever clinic in the palliative clinic.
"A core committee of 12 members was set up to lead the administration. Each day a meeting of the core committee members along with minister, officials of health department and collector is being held. In evenings, a review meeting was held to assess the situation and making a schedule for the next day," said the KMCH Superintendent. Health minister K.K Shylaja and Director of Health Services Dr R.L Saritha led the team from the front. The government has handed over Rs 1 crore to KMCH in the beginning followed by Rs 20 lakh from Excise department and Rs25 lakh from Cochin Port Trust.
