Vijayawada: Steps taken by the health department to tackle swine flu cases in the capital region proved to be ineffective.
Special swine flu ward arranged at Vijayawada government hospital failed to treat cases due to the lack of proper diagnostic facilities.
The most dangerous H1N1 virus which is creating panic situation in both the Telugu states has shown its presence in the capital. Around three swine flu suspected cases were recently admitted in Vijayawada government general hospital (GGH) and treated in a special ward. Doctors sent blood samples to the laboratory in Tirupati and waited for the reports.
Meanwhile, health condition of L. Visweswara Rao, a patient from Tenali, had become worse and he was further shifted to a corporate hospital for better treatment. He died there four days ago. Swine flu death was confirmed lately as reports came out after the death of the patient.
The GGH Vijayawada superintendent M. Ram Mohan confirmed that the death was caused due to swine flu and six suspected cases were recorded till now. Swine flu instances are very few in the region and so the diagnostics were not available at present, he said.
He condemned the allegations on delay of test result and said testing mechanism is an expensive affair and will soon bring testing facilities to the city.
Meanwhile, citizens are not happy with the action taken by officials of the health department. “Lack of high-end testing laboratory in the capital city is an alarming sign. Government should focus on developing required infrastructure in public health sector. Health minister should focus on public health issues, says Ch. Babu Rao, CPM secretariat member.
