Kanpur Govt Hospital ICU Runs On 'Jugaad' Despite Fear Of Third Wave

The situation in a Kanpur government hospital isn't great. In the second COVID-19 wave, Kanpur grappled with a dreadful phase.

Government Hospital in Kanpur: The third wave of COVID-19 is closing in. The health department is claiming that all preparations are on track, but there are problems galore in non-COVID-19 hospitals.

The ICU in Ursula Hospital is operational, but since it is not in the government records, trained staff isn't available. There are ventilators in the PICU, but due to the lack of qualified anesthetists, patients are not being able to use this facility.

Many public representatives have also raised the matter at the government level. However, no action has been taken so far and there has been no change in the status of the Pediatric ICU.

No Budget 

Since it isn't in the government records, no budget is available for the equipment and other essential things. There is no separate intensivist for the ICU. The work is being carried out by the general staff and those working on a contract basis. There is also no trained staff for the PICU. Patients with serious conditions are being referred, while many child pediatricians are posted here. Anil Nigam, CMS of the hospital, says that many correspondences have been done with the government in this regard. 

ICU Running On 'Jugaad'

Before the third wave of COVID-19, a plant with a capacity of 500 liters per minute has started. 35 beds are separately reserved for children. 10 of these are PICU beds. Ursula Hospital's ICU has not been approved by the government and several problem areas are being addressed through 'jugaad.' 

Here's what the administration has to say 

According to the Ursula administration, a unit has been set up to provide good facilities to the patients. When a little budget was received from the government, this unit was being run like an ICU. A lot of the staff has come here after working in private nursing homes. Ursula administration has given the responsibility of running this unit to some of the nursing staff and doctors.

Meanwhile, the government is also being contacted and intimated time and again. However, the shortage of trained staff and manpower persists. 

No Trained Staff

If Ursula's CMS is to be believed, the hospital will be able to run the ICU better if it gets trained staff and manpower. If this happens, the hospital won't have to beg NGOs for funds. Ursula has an anesthetist and two more are on contract. These three manage the OT and the hospital. They are 64-65 years old and their health condition isn't great either. The government has been informed about this. "We wrote to the government saying we should be given an anesthetist. We've written several letters, but there is no response yet.