Masking Reality

Swine flu is not new to Gujarat, yet its death toll has gone menacingly out of control. The state has registered 1,392 cases this season, the highest since the deadly disease struck Gujarat in 2009. Despite this, public city hospitals that receive the maximum number of swine flu patients are being careless with the health and safety of their employees and visitors. Mirror visited Civil Hospital, Shardaben Hospital, VS Hospital, and LG Hospital only to find that the hospitals have violated safety guidelines issued by the Union health ministry.

The guidelines mention that people near wards containing patients with infectious diseases should wear masks and protective gear. Children and pregnant women without masks were seen walking past these wards. Forget family members, even hospital staff do not wear masks and gloves. Doctors who are supposed to use N95 respirators wear simple masks while attending to patients. The respirators are not the same as loosely fitted
surgical masks. They fit tightly around the mouth and nose and have filters that can block about 95 per cent of the flu virus. With the doctors themselves at risk, it is a move that could prove costly in more ways than one. On Friday, 30 new swine flu cases and nine deaths were recorded in Ahmedabad. With this, the number of cases from the city touched 312 in just 44 days. A 59-year-old Sola resident succumbed to swine flu infection even as a three-year-old resident of Ranip was admitted to UN Mehta Hospital on Friday. So far, the total death toll in the city is 24.

VS HOSPITAL

Number of beds: 10 | Patients admitted: 1

Among corporation-run hospitals, this has the highest number of beds allocated for swine flu patients. The isolation ward has been set up opposite the Xray and outpatient departments that receive more than 200 patients vulnerable to infection. These wards see queues, comprising aged people, pregnant women and kids, snaking out of their door all the way to the main corridor. Patients with severe respiratory ailments also frequent this section. When Mirror visited the hospital, the isolation ward was not sealed completely. Some patients sitting on the bench outside had handkerchiefs and ends of their saris/dupattas held close to their nose but most of them were without any protection. A worker said, "Isolation wards are so for a reason. People are quarantined there to stop spread of infection. I do not know why the hospital set up one at a high-traffic spot."

"We do not have any other space where we could set up the isolation ward. This problem will be solved when the new building is constructed

- DR S P MALAN, DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT

AHMEDABAD CIVIL HOSPITAL

Number of beds: 155 | Patients admitted: 95

This season, Civil has already admitted more than 100 swine flu patients in three isolation wards. Currently, 95 people are quarantined here. According to health ministry guidelines, medical staff in such wards should wear triple-layer surgical mask, and protective gear. But the staff here neither wear masks nor have protective equipment. The doctors visiting ICU wear masks instead of N95 respirators as specified by the government. The helpers who collect biomedical waste, too, use a simple mask. Worried family members keeping watch outside the ward are seen using single-layer cotton masks, and handkerchiefs which offer little protection against the deadly virus. "It is essential to wear proper mask especially in hospitals where swine flu patients are admitted. These masks have tiny pores that filter out the virus and prevent the person from contracting infection," said Dr Hemant Patel, swine flu expert.

"We have all facilities to protect people from swine flu. People should also act responsibly. I will ensure employees wear masks inside isolation ward

- DR MM PRABHAKAR, MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT

LG HOSPITAL

Number of beds: 6 | Patients admitted: 1

With their low immunity, children are most vulnerable to swine flu. However, authority at LG Hospital seems unaware of the fact. The isolation ward at the hospital has been set up bang opposite the children's ward. The wide entrance to the children's ward has a metal gate instead of a solid door, putting its inmates at grave risk. Refusing to be named, a nurse said, "For several days now, we have been asking the hospital to give us masks. Kids are most vulnerable to infection. Despite this, the authorities have not given us any mask or protective gear."

"We set up our isolation ward opposite children's ward 3 years ago as we have no other space. I don't think it is dangerous

- DR YOGENDRA MODI, MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT

SHARDABEN HOSPITAL

Number of beds: 4 | Patients admitted: 1

Of all government hospitals, this one violates most of the safety guidelines. Instead of three-layer and medicated masks, the hospital provides one-layer mask to visitors. The door to the isolation ward is kept wide open instead of being sealed to stop spread of virus. Patients' stool is disposed of openly in front of family members. The staff handling the bodily waste did not have any gloves on. Mirror stumbled on a couple of councilor who had come to check on patients and facilities there. Surprisingly, they had limited knowledge of the infection. They were all wearing single-layer masks. Saraspur councillor Bhaskar Bhatt said, "I am aware that this mask is not suitable for isolation ward but I did not go inside. We were checking it from outside." The councillor needed reminding that H1N1 virus is transmitted not just by contact but through air also.

"We provide one-layer masks to visitors as it is easier to dispose of. For medical staff, we have N95 respirators

- DR RAJESH C SHAH, MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT