The second wave of Covid-19 is proving to be a challenge with as many as 10,182 cases of Covid-19 being detected in the first 27 days of May alone. There also have been 146 deaths between May 1 and May 27. In the Assam Medical College and Hospital alone, ovwr 400 covid patients are currently undergoing treatment out of which 60 patients are in ICU. Things have come to such a pass that all the three floors (ground floor, first floor, second floor) of the medicine ward are full to the brim with covid patients. Similarly the surgery ward, gynecological ward, pediatrics ward and the orthopedics ward are also being used for covid patients. With all ICU beds running full, the AMCH authorities are competing against time to complete the 60-bedded covid ICU currently being constructed at the super-speciality building of the medical college.
“The number of covid positive are increasing day by day. There is a wave of new positive patients. We have over 400 covid patients admitted at AMCH and the condition of several of them are serious. There are 60 covid patients in ICUs. We require more ICU beds. We are trying to adjust the serious patients in ICUs whenever any patient gets better, or released from the ICU or whenever any patient dies. Work on the 60-bedded covid ICU at the super-speciality building is in full swing. We should be able to get atleast 25-30 beds ready in one or two days while rest of beds will be ready in a week or 10 days,” AMCH superintendent Dr Prasanta Dihingia said.
The superintendent added that 40 new nurses have joined the medical college and hospital who will be engaged in covid duties. Moreover under the direction of the district administration, AMCH will recruiting a number of temporary staff for the newly built covid ICU for which interviews are going on. The payment of the staff will be made under the NHM.
“The situation is alarming but we are confident that we will be able to provide the best possible treatment to all. At no point of time the number of covid patients have come below 400 in the second wave. The number of covid patients have even reached 600. We are getting covid patients not only from Dibrugarh but also from other districts like Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat and Golaghat. Even patients from Arunachal Pradesh are undergoing treatment here. The doctors and nurses are trying their best in providing their best services,” Dihingia added.
On Friday Deputy Commissioner Pallav Gopal Jha taking stock of the upcoming 60-bedded covid ICU facility at the Assam Medical College and Hospital.
