Medical camp runs without doctors from health department

Ludhiana: One

medical

officer and two pharmacists from ESI dispensary number 12, Jodhan have been on duty in the medical camp organised at Guru Har Rai Nagar for diarrhoea patients in the absence of doctors or staff from the district health department.

In the area with a population of 3,000 all medical services are handled by the dispensary staff. Dr. Sangeeta Gupta, medical officer of the camp said, "On Monday we were informed about the death of a four-year-old girl from the area and were asked to start a medical camp. We thought staff or doctors from the district health department would be there to help, but none came.” Gupta and two pharmacists Daljit Kaur and Manjot Kaur have been on duty in the camp.

She added, "The department has only given us an ORS and even we have brought antibiotics on our own. There is no fluid for emergency patients. We have been asking for doctors but to no avail and hence work at the dispensary is getting affected.”

Gupta elaborated, “Some 7-8 years back we had a dispensary in this area, but now for the last few years, we are in Jodhan which is quite far from this place. We don't know why we have been shifted from one corner to another. We are told the area comes under ESI dispensary number 12, but we have to close the dispensary in Jodhan as a result of which patients are suffering. The health department should have given us some staff for help.”

According to Daljit, “We have brought antibiotics from our dispensary for children who are very serious. We don't have an option since the health department has only provided us with one single medicine, ORS packs and chlorine tablets.

As per reports, within three days of the outbreak, more than 550 patients are diagnosed with symptoms of diarrhoea and cholera. All attempts to reach civil surgeon, Dr. Hardeep Ghai went in vain as he did not pick up the phone.


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