Former Chief Minister of Maharashtra and leader of the opposition Shri Devendra Fadnavis visited Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences(MGIMS), Sevagram on Wednesday 19 Aug 2020 to gather covid-19 related insights of the Kasturba Hospital-attached to MGIMS.
Shri Ramdas Tadas (Member, Lok Sabha), Shri Suresh Bagale (Sub divisional Officer), Dr Dhawale (DHO, Wardha), Dr Shirish Gode (BPJ District President Wardha), Shri Atul Tarale (President, Wardha Municipal council), Shri Rajesh Bakane (Maharashtra State Secretary-BJP), Smt Vaishali Yerawar (Vice-President, Zilla Parishad) and Smt Mrunal Matte (Aarogya Sabhapati) accompanied Mr Fadnavis. Shri PL Tapdiya (Trustee, Kasturba Health Society) and Dr BS Garg (Secretary, Kasturba Health Society) welcomed the dignitaries with institute’s traditional sutgundi.
Dr SP Kalantri (Medical Superintendent, Kasturba Hospital) explained how the hospital has responded to the Covid-19 outbreak. “Our hospital with 170 oxygen beds, 30 ICU beds and dedicated support staff is providing preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic and community-level care for patients affected with corona virus. Since May 10, the hospital has seen 261 corona positive patients, 13 deaths and conducted 10347 tests”, he informed. He also emphasized on the difficulties faced by the healthcare workers working with PPE inside the corona wards. “Our hospital care is equally devoted towards patients suffering from heart diseases, kidney diseases, cancers, strokes, maternal and child health and TB. Identifying asymptomatic covid patients in the midst of patients presenting with fevers- malaria, dengue and scrub typhus - and preventing their mixing with general patients is the biggest challenge that hospitals are facing today”, he added.
"Our healthcare is a blend of science, ethics and compassion," Dr Kalantri said, "and we are ensuring that the treatments that we offer are based on robust clinical evidence." He also mentioned the research the institute is conducting to measure the sero- prevalence of COVID19, facility to accept plasma from eligible donors and the Phase 3 vaccine trials researches being conducted in the institute. He acknowledged the support from district administration, health authorities and police department in efficient management of the disease.
Shri Fadnavis appreciated the efforts taken by the institute and its healthcare workers in tackling the pandemic. He lauded the participation of institute at community level healthcare. He wondered if there would be a second wave of the pandemic; to which Dr Kalantri replied, “We expect to see a surge of covid patients in the month of September. Vaccine against covid cannot be ascertained yet.” While addressing the media later at Collector Office Shri Fadnavis acknowledged the contribution of Kasturba Hospital and mentioned, "MGIMS is doing an excellent job in managing the pandemic and I am happy to see the low infection rate in the district".
Dr NM Gangane (Dean, MGIMS) shared the institute’s support for Seven Hills Covid hospital at Mumbai by sending a team of 45 doctors and also told how the institute responded to the prime minister's appeal by donating the employees' one-day salary to PM-CARES fund.