Delhi hospitals asked to set up facilities for Ebola cases

New Delhi, Oct 30: Delhi government today reviewed preparedness for combating

disease and directed all hospitals to put in place required infrastructure like ICU, isolation wards and protective gears for personnel.

In a high-level meeting, chief secretary D M Spolia said Delhi being a high transit point, a high level of preparedness should be maintained and all agencies should act in unison and close coordination to combat the disease.

Spolia laid emphasis on the need to maintain a high level of preparedness and directed that surveillance mechanism to detect the possible cases should be intensified. He also said hospitals with the capacity of 500 beds should be asked to prepare for providing treatment to Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) cases.

In the meeting, principal secretary of health SCL Das informed Spolia about preparations and Dr Pawan Maurity of World Health Organisation (WHO) made a presentation on EVD. The chief secretary also reviewed the preparedness of Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and Lok Nayak Hospital which have been identified for treatment of EVD cases if detected. He also asked the medical superintendents for imparting training to all medical personnel within 15 days.

Hospitals identified for escalation to be made ready by identifying Nodal officers, training of staff and provision of personnel protective equipment. The government has made it clear that there should no crisis of equipment in the hospitals. If these are required, procure them immediately to meet any medical emergency.

PTI