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Two major hospitals declare emergency

5 August 2021 06:35 am - 22     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Following the Daily Mirror’s repeated extensive coverage, quoting health officials who have warned that the country is heading towards a medical tsunami from a Delta wave, two major hospitals yesterday declared emergency due to an overflow of COVID-19 infected patients.

The Ratnapura General Hospital and Karapitiya Teaching Hospital yesterday declared emergency, which had rarely been done in the Sri Lanka’s medical history, due to the sudden increase of COVID patients.

Karapitiya Teaching Hospital Acting Director Dr. Shelton Perera by letter had warned his hospital staff of the possible dangers of contracting the virus from the patients and had informed the doctors and sectional heads that he had declared an emergency situation in the hospital.

An official at the hospital said three wards allocated for COVID-19 patients were filled to their capacity and yesterday alone 140 infected individuals were admitted to the hospital. Dr. Perera had instructed the medical staff to give priority to the patients who had developed serious complications caused by the virus and to make arrangements with the Medical Officers of Health of the respective areas to provide treatment to others who were not suffering from respiratory disorders and other complications in their respective homes, until accommodation was available in the treatment centres.

The Ratnapura General Hospital Director, Dr. M.D.A. Rodrigo also declared an emergency following an urgent COVID-19 meeting held in the hospital yesterday. In a letter, he said the staff members of the hospital had been notified of this and they had been urged to strictly abide by the health guidelines.

When queried about the measure taken, Deputy Director-general of Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath told Daily Mirror that it was normal for a hospital to declare an emergency situation considering the due factors.

“When there is a situation of this nature which is called Mass Casualty Incidents, we have trained our hospitals as to how they should tackle the crisis,” he said.

“At a time of a bomb blast or a massive accident, there could be admissions and casualties at unprecedented numbers within a short period of time. To face such incidents, we have done drills and simulations,” he pointed out. Dr. Herath said all the hospitals were prepared to face such situations as done by the Ratnapura Hospital.

“Accordingly, they will be taking all the necessary measures to execute their plans and expand the capacity. This hospital is also doing the same,” he added. The Daily Mirror on Wednesday, after speaking to Doctors who were in the forefront of the pandemic, reported that Sri Lanka was heading towards its worst medical disaster in the coming weeks from a possible spread of the Delta variant.

“Hospitals in the Western Province are filled to the maximum and Oxygen is soon expected to run out. People have been urged to get vaccinated, wear tight-fitting masks, avoid gathering inside closed spaces, avoid leaving their homes unnecessarily and maintain all other health guidelines,” it is reported.

When questioned as to what more measures could be taken to avoid a disaster, Doctors said Sri Lanka had to face what lied ahead now since the Delta was already here.

-When there is a situation of this nature which is called Mass Casualty Incidents, we have trained our hospitals as to how they should tackle the crisis.(SHEAIN FERNANDOPULLE, SIRANGIKA LOKUKARAVITA, D.G.SUGATHAPALA AND AJITHLAL SHANTHAUDAYA)


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  Comments - 22

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  • Ralaharamy Thursday, 05 August 2021 07:23 AM

    It is courage that prompted DM to publish this truth. Please check IDH and other major hospitals, where dead bodies are kept in the corridor, as mortuaries are full. Do we need directors and ministers for this.

    J A Nihal Peiris Thursday, 05 August 2021 08:03 AM

    Ragama Hospital is over Crowded, with patients And Every where ,Must Enforce log down on weekends and intercity travels must prohibited

    Peacemaker Thursday, 05 August 2021 08:25 AM

    Ragama hospital had bodies lie on the ward floor

    AB Thursday, 05 August 2021 08:35 AM

    Now the real national disaster started,without totally depend on the staff of health department, make use of forces to open up care centers in every district under supervision of qualified doctors, use school halls for this purpose, call volunteers,willing able to help patients, this is to our beloved General 's eyes

    Peter Thursday, 05 August 2021 01:48 PM

    Make beds temporary binding small desks or benches

    Josy Jesus Thursday, 05 August 2021 08:36 AM

    We are in the hands of a evil family who wants to ruin this country and runner way like a true Sinhalese.. There so called 2500history .. Proves everything..

    Doug Thursday, 05 August 2021 08:58 AM

    Hope this brave hospital director would be penalised for doing the right thing and warning the people and safeguarding this staff,

    Sandy Thursday, 05 August 2021 09:03 AM

    Please hold more public events

    Money First Thursday, 05 August 2021 09:10 AM

    Thank you teachers and their supporters for adding fuel to the fire. Try not to justify your actions please.

    Joshua Thursday, 05 August 2021 09:11 AM

    The President and his Covid task force are sleeping or want to kill all the people???? Whilst others such Basil and Cabraal are only worried about a country's economy. The whole world is seeing how we are playing with Covid and people's lives in the name of "economy"

    Lion Thursday, 05 August 2021 09:17 AM

    This is the net result of the stupid action of a person who is infected with hubris.

    Jane Thursday, 05 August 2021 09:35 AM

    Shame on this government for concealing the truth. Good job to daily mirror for releasing this. True journalism.

    Lion Thursday, 05 August 2021 09:46 AM

    Why Sinopiss vaccine not working?

    Boris Vanculenberg Thursday, 05 August 2021 12:00 PM

    We truly salute the Daily Mirror for its brave

    Bandula Thursday, 05 August 2021 01:31 PM

    Instead of blaming the darkness, you bring in the light

    vithura Thursday, 05 August 2021 02:54 PM

    'My way' is taking the whole country to hell!

    Nadarajah RAJENDRA Thursday, 05 August 2021 03:44 PM

    please shutdown the country for 2 weeks otherweise more people are going to die rajendra

    kana Thursday, 05 August 2021 04:03 PM

    china vaccine kill people

    lovesrilanka Thursday, 05 August 2021 04:37 PM

    request request and request to SL gov. please put 14 days Lockdown and provide food to poor people. unless it will be like India .....

    Lalindra Thursday, 05 August 2021 05:00 PM

    India just recovering after a major catastrophe of the Covid spread. We could have taken precautions by studying the Indian case.

    Nuwan Thursday, 05 August 2021 05:20 PM

    This govt took things too easy and took people for a ride by dropping pots in rivers and giving dhammika peniya to people. See what ha happened now?

    Peacemaker Thursday, 05 August 2021 05:22 PM

    China vaccine is not effective, that’s why not even a single developed country used it


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