Health department to add more beds in govt hospitals, Hill Covid hospital

SANKHA GHOSH, SNS, SILIGURI,  27 APRIL : The state health department is all set to add more than 100 beds in two government hospitals and a dedicated hospital for Covid- 19 patients in the Hills, officials said today.

The department had issued a directive recently, asking government hospitals to set aside 500 Covid-19 beds in the district and private hospitals to allocate 25 percent of their beds for such patients.

"Sixty-five more beds will he augmented at the Darjeeling District Hospital, while18 will be added in the Kurseong Sub-Divisional Hospital for the treatment of Covid-19 patients," a health department official said.

Officials said 30 more beds will be added at Tribeni, a hospital for Covid- 19 patients in the Hills in Kalimpong. The beds strength will be increased from 150 to 180 there, the officials said.

The number of existing beds is far inadequate, compared to the number of people testing positive for the virus every day, especially in the Plains.

The Darjeeling District hospital has 343 beds presently.

"It is a 500-bed capacity hospital, but now 343 beds are functional. Of the 65 beds, there will be at least 10 for the Critical Care Unit and rest for the general ward. The hospital in Kurseong has 120 beds, and 18 will he reserved for Covid-19 patients. There will be seven each beds for male and female patients, while four more beds will be kept aside for patients needing oxygen." sources said.

The Darjeeling district health department has sent a proposal, seeking approval for 50 beds for Covid-t9 patient s in the Siliguri District Hospital.

The district chief medical officer of health, Dr Pralay Acharya, said private health facilities had been asked to expedite the process of increasing the bed capacity according to the guidelines.

In the government -run set up for treatment of Covid -19 patients in the district, the Covid Block at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital has 110 beds, and 96 more will be added in a separate high dependency unit there.

The Siiguri Municipal Corporation Indoor Stadium will house a 70-bed safe home too. Outgoing tourism minister Gautam Deb has said oxygen facilities will be provided there with 15 beds.

It will be handed over to the health department tomorrow.

"But unlike the previous year, the safe home will be up graded for the treatment of the Covid-19 patients. last year, only asymptomatic patients or people suffering from mild symptoms were treated there. But this time around, a dedicated treatment facility with oxygen support is being prepared," health department officials said.

Mr Deb said another safe home will be set up in Siliguri. He said the safe home at Hatighisa under Naxalbari block will be upgraded with oxygen facility.

Efforts are being made to convert government-run guest houses into safe homes too, sources said.

Bed augmentation in private facilities 

Mr Deb, who chaired a review meeting in Siliguri, said 443 more beds will be added in 22 private nursing homes.

"There are 136 beds available in 22 nursing homes in Siliguri. It has been decided that the number will be increased to 443. The management of the facilities has sought seven days' time," he said.

Helpline numbers of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation--8016277748, 9883206017—will be activated between 8 am and 8 pm. The corporation will also buy a hearse, it is learnt.

Outrage over denial of vaccines

Many people who had queued up for several hours at different centres for vaccination at the corporation-run health facility, Matri Sadan, expressed outrage after they were denied the Covid-19 vaccines today.

"I stood in the queue for the second dose for my father since 4.30 am, but after 10 am, we were informed that the vaccines will not he administered today. We do not know whether he will get the vaccines now," said a resident, Arnab Basu.

Like him, many other people said they were in the queues for several hours since the wee hours today, but in vain.

Such people expressed their deep anguish at the health department for not informing them that no stock was left.

According to Mr Deb, people should be informed about the status of the vaccines through loudspeakers at different areas, so as to avoid their harassment.

Whopping 424 cases in Darjeeling district

Meanwhile, Darjeeling district recorded 424 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, surpassing the previous highest single-day count. The Siliguri Municipal Corporation area, including portions under Jalpaiguri district, also registered its highest single-day count of 269 cases, sources said.

Fifty-seven cases were found in Phansidewa, 54 in Matigara, 47 in Naxalbari,21 in Darjeeling Municipality, 15 in Sukhia Pokhari, 12 in Sukna, 11 in Kharibari, five each in Mirik and Bijanbari, four in Kurseong Municipality and two cases in Takdah.

Public health experts have said "intensive action and comprehensive containment measures" were required to break the virus transmission chains. They further warned that the daily count could continue to rise.

Meanwhile, six persons who had tested positive for Covid-19 died in the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital today.

The deaths included a 62 year-old resident of Ghogomali, a 48-year-old resident of Kawakhali, 56-year-old woman from Kamrangaguri, a 65-year-old resident of Bharat Nagar, a 62-year-old from Jyotinagar, and a 60 - year-old from Malbazaar in Jalpaiguri.

On the other hand, a 59 year-old resident of Mal-bazaar died in a private nursing home in Siliguri. Another 48-year-old resident of Raiganj died in Siliguri last night.