Docs upset with isolation wards

Members of the Telangana private hospitals and nursing homes association (THANA) found fault with the location of isolation wards in government hospitals, which are themselves located in the heart of the city. Doctors opined that isolation wards could instead have been set up in the Rajiv Gruhakalpa houses, which are numbered in thousands, and located in the outskirts of the city.

They appealed to citizens to use handkerchiefs to cover their faces, saying it was sufficient and there was no need for surgical masks, as Coronavirus was sixed between 400 and 500 microns.

Dr Vishnun Rao Veerapaneni, pulmonologist, said that the decision to set up isolated wards in core city hospitals like Gandhi Hospital, Government General and Chest Hospital, Erragadda and Fever Hospital in Nallakunta has been creating panic among citizens. Dr Rao said that the government could have instead established these isolation wards in thousands of empty Rajiv Gruhakalpa houses located in the city outskirts.

Dr Vishnun Rao Veerapaneni, pulmonologist, opined that setting up isolation wards in isolated places would be ideal as it would not create any inconvenience to citizens who visit government hospitals. Dr Rao, however, welcomed the decision of setting up an isolation ward at the Vikarabad military hospital.

As many as 32,144 flats were lying vacant at Mylardevulapally, Laxmiguda, Almasguda and Ahmedguda Kuntlur, Annojiguda, Vikarabad and Tandur other places in the outskirts of the city.

Mr M.V. Prasad, general secretary, THANA said that the chance of survival of Covid-19 in the city was very low. He said that the virus cannot survive if temperatures go beyond 27 degree Celsius. There is hardly any chance therefore of its spread now as average temperature in the city for since past one week has been 35 degree Celsius.

Mr Prasad advised citizens not to attend public meetings, weddings, any mass gathering and use public transport like metro and RTC sparingly. He said that it could be safe if citizens wash their hands once in an hour, especially after touching surfaces at public places.

THANA members said that private hospitals would give initial treatment for Covid-19 suspect cases under corporate social responsibility (CSR), since government hospitals cannot meet public demand.

They said that they have given representation to city mayor Bonthu Rammohan about the voluntary treatment during ongoing crisis.

● COMMENTING ON surgical masks, Dr Vishnun Rao Veerapaneni said that citizens can use handkerchiefs in absence of surgical masks in the market

● HE ADDED that citizens can either stand in the sun for two hours or use sanitizers to prevent the virus from spreading