3,000-strong health squad for Sabarimala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Anticipating a huge turnout at Sabarimala for the ensuing Mandala-Makaravilakku festival season, the health department has decided to deploy a 3,000-strong contingent of health department employees, including doctors.

In the review meeting convened by health minister K K Shailaja here, it has been decided to set up an emergency operation theatre at Sannidhanam. Doctors from different districts will be deputed for service on rotation basis.

A nodal officer has been appointed for monitoring the activities of the health department at Sabarimala. From Pamba to Sannidhanam, it has been decided to set up 16 healthcare centres. These centres will be providing patient care on cardio and respiratory problems for the devotees.

In these centres there will be oxygen parlours, OP wing and intensive cardiac care clinics. In addition to this, there will be mobile clinics at various centres and also referral transporting services. The dispensaries at Pamba and Sannidhanam have started functioning from November 1. More dispensaries will be functioning from November 15.

More doctors will be appointed at primary health centres, Nilackal, community health centre, Erumeli and general hospital, Pathanamthitta, during the festival season. At Appachimedu, Neelimala and Pamba there will be special centres with ICU facilities.

Specialist doctors from medical college hospitals will also be deployed at the health centres which will function round the clock. Apart from this, it has been decided to set up four mobile clinics which will shuttle between Pamba and Nilackal.

For the critical patients there will be facilities to shift them to Pathanamthitta general hospital and Kottayam medical college hospital without any delay. Health inspectors and junior public health nurses will be in charge of the checking the spreading of waterborne diseases in the region.