BMC to hold workshops for doctors

With the dreaded H1N1 virus claiming three more lives this week, the civic authorities do not want to leave anything to chance and are taking all necessary precautions to stop the spread.

The civic body has initiated a sensitisation programme for doctors posted in the out patient departments (OPD’s) of the civic-run health institutions. Scheduled to start from Friday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) health authorities aim to reach out to 250 doctors who can help in early identification of H1N1 infected patients.

Besides training doctors to clinically identify swine flu symptoms, the civic officers will also urge them to take the vaccine to stop the spread of the virus. Manisha Mhaiskar, additional municipal commissioner, said, “The swine flu figures in the month of June suggest that there has been a slight increase in the cases and the virus is present in the air. Hence, we have initiated this programme.”

According to Mhaiskar, a team of seniors will sensitise doctors on OPD duty from three civic run hospitals, 16 peripheral hospitals, 24 maternity homes and 160 dispensaries.

The programme will be coordinated by Dr Sanjay Oak, dean, KEM Hospital, and Dr Girish Ambe, executive health officer, BMC.
In Maharashtra, the H1N1 outbreak was at its peak during the monsoon last year — July-August. Thus, doctors are being extra cautious this monsoon.

According to civic authorities, several deaths were reported in the city because the patient came late to the hospital. However, experts had observed that out of the 25% healthy patients who succumbed to the H1N1 infection, majority of them were due to delay in getting the right medication.

“We want the doctors to be able to pick out swine flu patients immediately and they should know when a patient’s swab needs to be taken,” said Ambe, adding, that the doctors would also be made aware about the importance of the vaccine and asked to get inoculated.