LG asks hospitals to be well-equipped to deal with dengue, chikungunya

Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Saturday directed Delhi's Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital to keep beds ready for dengue and chikungunya patients in the event of an outbreak of the vector-borne diseases in the city.

The LG's visit to three city-based hospitals started with Lok Nayak Hospital on Saturday. He went to the Poly Trauma/Department of Neurosurgery OT, ICU/ Pediatrics Surgery/ OPD/fever clinic/fever wards/children wards and other departments.

Baijal also instructed the medical superintendent and doctors at LNJP Hospital to ensure that patients with complications, particularly the elderly ones, should be attended to with greater care.

The LG also stressed on maintaining cleanliness in the hospital premises.

The medical superintendent informed Baijal that wards had been set aside for dengue and chikungunya patients.

Baijal's directive comes after he went for a review of the health facilities in LNJP Hospital, GB Pant Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research and Guru Nanak Eye Centre.

Till April 15 this year, 27 dengue and 79 chikungunya cases have been reported.

In 2016, 4,431 cases of dengue and 7,760 cases of chikungunya had been reported in the city.

"Lieutenant Governor Baijal instructed the MS that a sufficient number of beds should be kept ready for dengue and chikungunya patients, given the anticipated danger in the coming monsoon season," the LG office said in a statement.

During his visit to GB Pant Institute, Baijal inspected the Cardiovascular Cath Labs/Blood Room/Microbiology Room, among other wards.

The LG appreciated the standard of healthcare being provided at the premier super-specialty institute and wished that the national Capital must be equipped with the best of medical facilities, which must structurally take care of the poorest and neediest on priority.

After reviewing the facilities at GB Pant Institute, Baijal went to Guru Nanak Eye Centre where he inspected its Investigation and LASIK labs. He asked the authorities to ensure that patients got the best treatment.

Baijal interacted with the medical superintendents of all three hospitals at a meeting on Saturday, which was also attended by the Health Secretary of Delhi.

In his concluding remarks, Baijal said that health of its citizens is of paramount importance to any society and is one of the central responsibilities of any state.

He complimented all the three institutes for doing a great job despite all the resource constraints and heavy patient-load, and encouraged the doctors and the support staff to continue their good work.

The LG instructed the secretary to urgently resolve issues such as shortages of staff and equipment.