Total dengue cases 1029; Ramadoss visits AIIMS

New Delhi, Oct 11: As the total number of reported dengue cases crossed 1,000 in the national capital, Union Health Minister Minister Anbumani Ramadoss today visited AIIMS where 170 viral disease patients are undergoing treatment.

Dr Ramadoss visited the institute for about an hour and met dengue patients in wards, D2, AB3 and the new ward.

He reviewed facilities for dengue patients in the hospital, doctors said. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had visited the institute, which has been facing a dengue deluge, on Sunday and appreciated the efforts of management and doctors in facing the situation.

''AIIMS is doing well in dealing with the dengue situation. It is a super specialty hospital and people are coming here from all parts of the country,'' Dr Ramadoss said at the end of has visit.

He said 20 hospitals have been identified across the national capital which have been directed to provide free tests and treatment for dengue.

During the past 48 hours, no dengue death was reported at AIIMS, the doctors said.

However, 39 new patients were admitted and 42 were discharged in the past 24 hours. The total number of cases in the institute now stands at 170.

More than 9,000 patients have been screened at the AIIMS emergency OPD since October 3.

MCD officials said 1029 total cases were reported in Delhi till 1000 hrs yesterday morning, of which 651 are from the capital.

The Health Minister did not visit the general dengue ward in AIIMS. Doctors described the visit as ''just a formality''.

''The visit has come a little too late. As the President of the Institute it was his duty to ensure and provide the hospital infrastructure and resources for an emergency situation like this,'' AIIMS RDA General Secretary Dr Anil Sharma said.

''Dr Ramadoss has come when the AIIMS internal contingency is already in place and we are working as a well oiled machine,'' he added.

He said resources at the world renowned healthcare institute had been stretched to the limits and the Union Health Ministry had failed to mobilise resources.

Under the contingency plan, 100 additional doctors and 50 interns have been put on duty in the dengue ward, by the AIIMS management from today.

''All the additional doctors and interns will report to the Medical Superintendent of the Main Hospital for strengthening patient care,'' an AIIMS spokesperson said.

Some private wards have been converted into the general dengue ward to accommodate patients.

AIIMS resident doctors and interns had organised a ''Gandhigiri'' welcome of hoards of red roses and ''Get Well Soon'' posters for the Health Minister to mark their protest for his late visit to the institute. But Dr Ramadoss, due to ''paucity of time'', gave it a miss as he did not visit the hostel where the ''arrangements were laid out''.

The worst affected areas from dengue in Delhi are Central Zone, Shahdara (North) and Najafgarh which have reported 115, 79 and 72 cases respectively.

UNI

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