Sewri TB hospital, which recently saw several incidents of patients committing suicide, is getting TVs to keep those admitted there engaged and stop them from taking any drastic step. Two sets have already been installed, 13 more are in the pipeline. The hospital administration has also started yoga therapy sessions for the patients.
The hospital, one of the largest for TB in Asia with 1,000 beds, has been reporting suicides for the last five years. In the last six months, three patients, depressed due to the illness, have committed suicide there.
Hospital's medical superintendent Dr Rajendra Nanavare said, "We have installed two TV sets in our outpatient department. By Saturday, we will install 13 more. We hope entertainment programmes will divert patients' depressing thoughts and keep them occupied."
The rising depression/suicidal tendency cases among TB patients have been a cause for worry for the hospital administration. After a 25-year-old multi-drug TB patient killed himself by slitting his throat with a shaving blade, hospital officials had a meeting on Wednesday in which the decision to install TV sets and start recreational activities was taken.
Nanavare has also ordered frisking of patients/relatives for sharp objects that can be used for causing harm. "No relatives or patients will be allowed to keep sharp objects with them. Admitted patients will now be given medicines by nurse only. This will ensure the patient doesn't overdose himself/herself," he said.
An ailment like TB often ends up isolating the patient socially, say doctors. The absence of support from friends and relatives, coupled with physiological and mental side effects of the disease, has made it a thumb rule for doctors to advise psychiatric counselling for the patients.
Dr Suhasini Nagda, director of major civic hospitals, has asked for a list of patients in the Sewri hospital who haven't had any visitors for the last six months and don't have relatives either. The BMC is also trying to rope in NGOs who can provide the patients nutritious food.
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