Hassan district hospital prepared to tackle third wave of pandemic

HASSAN: With third wave of the pandemic around the corner, the district administration is leaving not stones unturned to curb the spread of the virus.
All the medicos at the district hospital have undergone paediatric training as according to experts, children will be more susceptible to the virus. An oxygen generation plant from Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will soon be installed at the district hospital premises.
According to the district hospital sources, more than 350 doctors, including 84 doctors who have recently joined under the one year mandatory service, are working at the hospital. Of them, 14 are paediatricians.
The district hospital has 750 beds. Of them, 600 have oxygen supply lines. The hospital also has 140 ventilators.
Two wards consisting of 100-150 beds are reserved for emergency purposes if the Covid cases surge in the district.
“In the third floor, 200 beds are reserved for those below 18 years of age. Of these, 20 ICU beds are available anytime with 10 ventilators. Mothers will be given one or two separate wards on the same floor. In the district hospital, all doctors and nursing staffs were provided paediatric training for two weeks in July. They were trained about expected symptoms, drug dosage, complications expected, treatment,” district surgeon Dr Krishnamurty.
“The oxygen generation plant provided by DRDO has reached the district hospital premises. The process of its installation is underway. This plant produces 1,500 litre per minute. There is 13KL oxygen storage tank. Another 20KL tank was ordered and is yet to arrive. Installation of oxygen generation plant is merely completed at Holenarsipur, Channarayapatna, Arsikere and Sakleshpur taluk hospital. In other taluks, the construction is planned to be completed within a fortnight. Those plants have capacity to generate oxygen in the range of 300-500 liter per minute,” he added..
“In the last two weeks, more than 150 children below 18 years have contracted the virus in the district. No one is critical. They are under home isolation,” said DHO Dr KM Sathish.