Hyderabad: Nizamia Hospital keeps up spirits of paralytics

Charminar: Despite fewer resources, one of the oldest and historic Unani Hospitals in the country, Government Nizamia General Hospital (GNGH) near Charminar continues treat patients suffering from paralysis. They offer free services in spite of facing staff and fund crunch.

Established by the Nizam VII of Hyderabad, this hospital, which continues to provide services for more than 80 years, is known for Unani medicines and its services. Traditionally the hospital is known for curing paralysis of patients within a month of the attack.

Speaking to The Hans India GNGH Superintendent Dr M A Wakil informed that paralytic patients constituted more than 70 per cent of those admitted in the 180-bedded hospital. "In a month more than 200 patients get admitted for paralysis. Most of the time the hospital is almost fully occupied, and the patients have to wait to get admitted in hospital. Daily around 300 patients visit hospital for different kinds of ailments," he added.

Over 1 lakh outpatients in a year The doctor pointed out that people still prefer Unani treatment. Last year 1,16,356 outpatients visited for consultation and more than 80,000 were patients of paralysis. For the treatment, the patients not only come from Telangana and AP but also from other states. "In this Unani Hospital with the grace of almighty, a patient once cured hardly visits again," he added.

"If a patient suffers paralytic attack, he is admitted for 30 days and within 21 days the patient gets cured by Unani medicines and for the remaining days he is given physiotherapy and other treatments. For the treatment of paralysis, we give Munzij-e-Baghal and a Sharbat for 21 days which dissolves the clot and then Pargate-Gulab for 3 days and a Tabreek for next 3 days. For the body strength, Muqavviyath is given among patients. Along with these medicines, a massage with old skills and Turkish bath is given daily to the patients," Dr Wakil explained.

When The Hans India reporter spoke to the patients, they said that they came in a wheelchair to get admitted in the hospital and now within 10-12 days they were able to walk. 74-year-old Arshad Ali, who came for paralysis treatment from Mumbai, said that for the last 7-8 years he was taking allopathic treatment in Mumbai after a paralytic attack which affected his right side of the body. He got admitted here after he learnt about the Unani treatment and now, within 20 days he was able to talk and walk.

Another patient Mohammed Kareemuddin from Malakgiri said that within a week he felt better with the treatment and he has been undergoing a massage and hot Turkey bath regularly. But the hospital which is famously known as 'Falij' (paralysis) ka Dawakhana' was being neglected and no funds were being allotted.