Hospital corridor turns dengue ward

Bhubaneshwar: The horrors of COVID-19 seems to have come back to haunt the city with the corridors of Capital Hospital turning into dengue wards as the number of patients crossed 200 in a facility which is equipped to house 50 patients.

"The number of people affected by the disease has been increasing by leaps and bounds in the city. We had to think quickly and improvise. We had to add beds in the corridors to accommodate the patients. We are trying our best to provide basic amenities to them," said director, Capital Hospital, Laxmidhar Sahoo.

Sahoo said physicians are attending to the patients round-the-clock and trying their best to complete treatment of every individual so that they get well fast.

"Food, water and other necessary items have been made available to all patients," he said.

While the patients got their beds either in the corridors and some in the special ward, their attendants could be seen lying on the hospital's floors. Some have even made the hospital's parking yards their resting shed.

"My sister tested positive for dengue on Monday. We admitted her to the hospital, but initially couldn't find any bed. Now she has got a bed in the corridor on the hospital's first floor," said Nitikanta Jena, a patient's attendant from Baghamari.

The hospital campus is also bustling with people, who have come to the healthcare institution for their test suspecting dengue.

A number of such people could be found waiting under trees, in benches and other such places. Sources said the hospital is currently witnessing a footfall of nearly 700 people a day, who have been coming to give their samples for testing. "It's been one hour now. I am yet to reach the counter to get my report," said Biraja Tripathy, a man waiting for his report.

By Friday, the state registered 2,823 dengue positive cases with the concentration of patient being the highest in Khurda at 1,606. Areas under the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation have reported over 1,300 cases , as per the records of the health and family welfare department.