Chandigarh: March 31: “As we complete one year of COVID positive patient care in Nehru Hospital Extension, the dedicated COVID Hospital of PGIMER, we would like to cherish the commitment, courage and compassion of our healthcare workers who bravely donned the mantle of being our frontline warriors in the thick of COVID-19 pandemic,” stated Prof. Jagat Ram, Director PGIMER, while reviewing the work done through the year in the dedicated COVID Hospital of PGIMER today.
Tracing the journey of how the dedicated COVID Hospital rose to the occasion during the COVID 19 pandemic, Prof. G.D. Puri, Dean (Academic) & Head, Deptt. of Anaesthesia & Intensive Care, who spear-headed the COVID-19 initiative in PGIMER shared, “The crucial decision of dedicating the newly built Nehru Hospital Extension building to the care of COVID-positive patients was a remarkable step towards quality patient care. Since 31st March 2020 when we admitted first COVID 19 positive patient here in NHE, we have taken care of over 3200 seriously ill COVID-positive patients from across the region. With a recovery rate of 81% among moderate to severe cases, the healthcare workers in NHE put in their best to save precious lives from the clutches of COVID-19 demon.”
“The oldest patient admitted in NHE has been of 94 years and youngest has been of one hour only. With 512 major and minor operation theatre procedures, NHE has been steadfast in serving the COVID 19 patients without any respite through the year,” added Prof. Puri.
Prof. G.D. Puri further detailed, “More than 4500 healthcare workers have been posted to the COVID hospital, and only 30 of them were detected to be COVID positive, many of whom acquired it from the community rather than the hospital. This is one of the lowest rates of COVID positivity amongst healthcare workers directly in contact with COVID patients anywhere in the world.”
Acknowledging the hardships faced by doctors, nursing & technical officers, technicians, hospital & sanitary attendants and other categories of staff who worked amongst COVID patients, Prof. Vipin Koushal, Addl Medical superintendent & Incharge COVID-19 Hospital lauded his team as he said, “The hardships faced by healthcare workers through the year and even now are difficult to put in words. Spending hours cloaked in inhospitable PPEs, wearing fogged goggles, accomplishing their duties with great patience and fortitude, avoiding even meal breaks and washroom breaks, staying away from family and friends in self isolation and quarantine is no cake -walk. Their commitment to duty while risking their own lives to save the lives of patients under their care deserves all the appreciation.”
Prof. Koushal further briefed, “Sustaining the motivation of the healthcare workers and fighting spirit of the patients was also another challenge. For this, we ensured that we create an enabling environment with prayer meetings, fun activities, celebrations of important days and other engagement initiatives so that the morale of our COVID 19 team remains high despite whatever adversities.”
Alongside, NHE also contributed substantially in the vaccination drive by jabbing our own healthcare workers since the start of the Vaccination Drive on 16th January at COVID Vaccination Centre here in NHE. Later, the same centre is being utilised for vaccination of general community and with the enabling environment and proactive demeanour of the staff, the centre has been garnering appreciation from all those who come here for vaccination. It is also a matter of satisfaction that so far no serious side effects have been observed in anyone.”, Prof. Vipin Koushal concluded.
