KIMS gears up for Nipah

Hubballi: Although no cases of the Nipah virus have been reported from the north Karnataka region yet, the Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (Kims) in Hubballi has made full-fledged preparations to deal with those cases. It has already created a separate five-bed ward to treat suspected Nipah cases. Kims is the only hospital in north Karnataka that treats all types of health issues.

Director of Kims, Dr. Dattatreya Bant informed that all doctors and nurses have been trained to deal with patients in cases of emergencies. “We have kept enough ventilators ready, necessary antibiotic pills and other medicines which are essential to control the fever among the suspected patients. We have also made arrangement to take blood samples from suspected people and send it for lab test in Pune,” he said. Also, a comprehensive health awareness programme has been chartered with 400 nursing students, to create awareness about the virus.

Teams have been formed, consisting of nurses and other volunteers, to spread awareness in slum areas of the twin cities. The nursing students will enact street plays highlighting the symptoms of Nipah and the precautionary and treatment measures to be followed for it. These plays will be enacted at all strategic points in the city, along with visits to slum areas. Pamphlets have also been printed which contain details about the dos and don’ts of the disease.