Fever hospital in a feverish state

The 100-bedded Government Fever Hospital located at Gorantla, a suburb on the outskirts of then city established in 1963 in the sprawling 8.6 acres is crying for attention and a face-lift.

A section of its buildings is in a dilapidated condition and the hospital itself requires special attention in terms of adequate doctors, nurses and particularly sanitary workers as the hospital is basically an infectious diseases hospital treating people with Tuberculosis, Respiratory, chest diseases, HIV-Aids, Swine Flu and similar diseases which require hygienic atmosphere and maintenance of hygiene and sanitation.

But the hospital with poor sanitation staff and bad odour emanating from its wards pose a challenge to the health of those working and hospitalized patients. The hospital treats hundreds of patients not only from the district but also from other districts like Prakasham, Krishna and Godavari districts as nest to the hospital at Vizag, This makes the hospital all the more in demand as such specialized services given by the doctors and clinical services are not available in other district government hospitals.

The vacancies chart of the hospital speaks for itself. The inadequate staff lacks 3 civil assistant surgeon and 16 class four staff, most of which are sanitation workers. Last year the hospital treated 9 cases of swine flu from the neighboring districts as far as Rajahmundry.

The hospital having male and female wards have 70 beds for chest diseases and 30 beds for infectious diseases. Over the years the hospital has graduated into one with multiple facilities including Anti-Retrieval Therapy (ART) for HIV Aids patients who come for follow-up treatment.

Its equipments included the digital x-ray, central oxygen system, cc cameras, biometric attendance. The buildings need to be renovated including the Radiology building while it has no proper office . Age old patient cots need to be replaced with new one. The hospital requires laundry workers as most of the pateints suffering from infectuous should have their sourroundings in clean condition.

Resident Medical Officer Dr.Shoba Rani revealed that AMG India International, a reputed NGO has come forward to give Rs.57 lakhs for the Multi-Drug Resistance (MDR) ward development with 40 beds.

Fever Hospital superintendent Dr.K.Rajendra Kumar told 'The Hans India' that proposals worth Rs.5.34 crores have been sent to the government for building two floors including an administrative block, a Mortuary and an Ambulance besides renovating old buildings.

The authorities also sent proposals for Rs.37.5 lakhs for an over all face llift to the hospital. The doctors are demanding for the government to upgrade the hospital into a state level referral unit and change its name from Fever Hospital to ID, TB and Chest Hospital.