SARI, ILI hosps not needed now: Officials

SNS,  SILIGURI, 3 SEPTEMBER : The state health department has observed that dedicated hospitals for patients suffering from severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) or Influenza-like Illness (ILI) may not be necessary so much as patients can be ensured fast treatment based on the quick rapid test results.

According to the director of health services, state health and family welfare, Dr Ajay Chakrahorty, such hospitals were being discontinued gradually.

"There has been evolution of Covid-19. Earlier it would take two-three days' time to ascertain whether patients arc suffering from Covid- 19, it would take time for diagnosis, and till the time the results were had, the patients needed such hospitals. Now, we are getting the results within a short span of time through rapid antigen tests, and are ensuring immediatc steps based on the test results. All hospitals have isolation wards and fever clinics. Therefore, gradually the concept of hospitals for SARI patients is being abolished," Dr Chakrahorty said here today. There is no such hospital presently in Darjeeling district.

"But in some medical colleges and hospitals, such facilities will be continued because many critical patients arc referred there. The North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) has arrangements for an 80-bed isolation ward," he added.

Plea to use govt-run Covid hospitals

Dr Chakraborty also appealed to people to avail of Covid treatment in government-run hospitals.

"Government-run health facilities provide better health care. Those hospitals are not overcrowded," he said.

A team of senior officials of the health department--director of the National Health Mission, West Bengal, Saumitra Mohan, Dr Chakrahorty, and director of medical education Prof Debasis Bhattachatya, who are touring four districts of north Bengal (Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, Kalimpong and Darjeeling) to review the Covid-19 situation, held a meeting with Darjeeling administrative and health officials at Uttarkanya in Siliguri today. They will visit the NBMCH tomorrow.

Services in districts 'good'

Meanwhile, Mr Mohan said healthcare activities in the districts were appreciable.

"We have observed that the health department protocol on Covid -19 is being properly followed. We also reviewed treatment facilities for non Covid patients in those districts and it has been satisfactory. We have told the authorities that there should not be any gap of treatment for Covid-19 and also non -Covid patients," he said.

Patient dies

A 69-year-old resident of Rangliot in Darjeeling, who had tested positive for Covid- 19, died at the NBMCH today.

Meanwhile, 41 cases were found in areas under the Siliguri Municipal Corporation today. Darjeeling district reported 106 new cases, including 25 in the SMC, two in Darjeeling Municipality, five in Kharibari, two in Kurseong Municipality, six in Sukna, 25 in Matigara, four in Mirik, 15 in Naxalbari, three in Phansidewa, four in Pulbazaar/Bijanbari, 11 in SukhiPokhari, and four in Takdah, sources said.

Malda dip continues

Malda continued to maintain its downward trend of new Covid cases. Only 28 samples among the 979 tested at the VRDL in the Malda Medical College and Hospital last night were found positive.

Succour for Siliguri sub-div Covid martyr'

Family members of Covid 19 warrior, Dr Bishnu Chatterjee who died after testing positive for the coronavirus during duty, have received Rs 50 lakh from the central government, according to BJP leaders.

The Siliguri organisational district president of the BJP, Praveen Agarwal, told reporters that authorities concerned have deposited the amount to the hank account of Chatterjee's wife today. Darjeeling MP Raju Bista, who extended help to Dr Chatterjee's family, today praised the Centre's 'Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana' under which financial support is provided to Covid- 19 warriors, who die of the virus infection. Mr Bista said he took up the matter with the union finance minister and health minister so that family members of Dr Chatterjee, who was in charge of a quarantine centre in the Siliguri subdivision, got assistance from the Centre. On the otherhand, Siliguri BJP president, Mr Agarwal, criticised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as the deceased's family members have allegedly not received any help from the state government, though it had declared financial support to family members of frontline warriers who died of Covid- 19.