Assured to address all issues at the earliest
Leh, 7 Nov:- The Chairman/Chief Executive Councillors, LAHDC, Leh Tashi Gyalson who also holds the portfolio of Health sector accompanied by Counicllor Choushot Mirza Hussain today inspected SNM Hospital Leh to know the ground reality of facilities and health services amidst continuous rise in COVID-19 cases in Leh district.
Medical Superintendent SNM Hospital Leh Dr. Norzin Angmo briefed CEC about the ongoing treatment of about 25 serious COVID-19 patients admitted in the COVID-19 ICU Ward of SNM Hospital Leh. CEC Gyalson also gave a patient hearing to the problems and grievances of COVID-19 positive patients, problems of Doctors, Nurses, NHM staff, NOs and Safawalas and assured to address their genuine issues and demands on priority at the earliest.
Director Health Services UT Ladakh Dr. Phunchok Angchuk, CMO, Leh Dr. Motup Dorjey and MS SNM Leh Dr. Norzin apprised CEC that there is no shortage of ventilators, oxygen cylinders and other equipment except delay in installation of one additional oxygen plant and shortage of Nurses and Male Nursing Orderlies to handle Mega Oxygen cylinders in the hospital.
Senior Doctor of SNM Hospital Dr. Morup informed CEC that SNM Hospital Leh has a stock of 500 numbers of mega oxygen cylinders and 600 mini oxygen cylinders and procurement of additional 400 mega cylinders has already been placed. Xen Mechanical Division Leh apprised CEC that SNM Hospital Leh is procuring 30 Mega Cylinders of oxygen each from private oxygen plants stationed at Chushot and Phayang daily and from tomorrow 200 mega oxygen cylinders will be procured from both the private oxygen plants. He said that the existing Oxygen Plant of SNM Hospital Leh has the capacity to produce 500 ltrs of oxygen per/minute and during four (4) hours break mandatory for the plant, the oxygen is supplied through Mega Cylinders which is attached with the main oxygen line in the hospital.
CEC Gyalson took serious note for delay in installation of an additional Oxygen Plant in the Hospital in this time of emergency and strictly directed Xen Mechanical Division Leh Jaswant Singh to track the equipments of new oxygen plant which is on the way to Leh and directed him to report CEC office on daily basis until the new oxygen plant is installed in the hospital so that 24×7 Oxygen supply to the COVID-19 serious patients and other emergency patients could be ensured in the hospital in coming days.
CEC also inspected other wards of SNM Hospital and reviewed the future and backup plan of SNM Hospital in setting up of additional wards for serious COVID-19 patients.
Later, in a meeting with all the doctors of SNM Hospital, CEC Gyalson extended his heartfelt gratitude and thanks on behalf of LAHDC, Leh to the frontline warriors of the health dept. Leh including doctors, paramedic and other staff for working tirelessly day and night since nine months in this difficult and challenging time.
CEC assured to convene an emergency meeting of Health Secretary UT Ladkah and concerned high level officers shortly to address all the issues at the earliest and assured for outsourcing of 100 Nurses and other supporting staff for Leh district at the earliest possible time. To ensure smooth management of COVID-19 patients and other emergency patients in the SNM Hospital, CEC directed MS SNM hospital Dr. Norzin to re-define the management of the hospital with collaborative efforts of all the staff.
To break the chain of pandemic, CEC said that the Council will ensure strict implementation of SOPs with required changers in SOPs and will take the opinion of doctors and experts in coming days.
Later, CEC visited SNM Hospital COVID-19 Laboratory Chushot Yokma and assured to address the issue of the heating system and running water facilities in the Laboratory at the earliest.
After the inspection, CEC Gyalson immediately spoke to the Commissioner Secretary Health Rigzian Sampheal (IAS) and discussed the problems and issues of SNM Hospital Leh. Commissioner Secretary Health assured CEC that within a week additional oxygen cylinders with capacity of 30,000 ltrs of oxygen, 15 Nurses and 15 male Nursing Orderlies will be provided to SNM Hospital. To tackle COVID -19 serious patients, Commissioner Secretary Health also assured CEC to dedicate the first floor of SNM Hospital Leh for COVID-19 patients and Heart Foundation hospital Leh as COVID -19 Hospital with required facilities within a week .
