As dengue grips eight districts of the Jammu province, panic-stricken residents are shifting dengue patients to Punjab and Delhi for “reliable” treatment.
In Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Jammu, nearly 320 patients have been tested positive for dengue and the number is swelling every day. The situation is worst in the outskirts, where equipment for checking blood and dengue fever are not available.
Health institutes in the Jammu region appear to have failed in coping with the problem, making people go for traditional treatment methods or shifting patients to other states.
“The reports of the GMCH is varying from the reports of a private laboratory, so I have decided to shift my cousin to Ludhiana for better treatment,” said Rajesh Chalotra, a resident of Smailpur village, Samba.
“The only hospital in Bishnah, which caters to the need of nearly 100 villages, including the border belt, is over-crowded,” said Ajay Kumar, a resident of Bishnah.
Dr Gurjit Singh, Director, Health Services, said in the GMCH, 320 patients had been tested positive for dengue.
Sat Sharma, state BJP president, has also visited the GMCH to enquire about the facilities being provided to the dengue patients.
BJP MLA’s tribute to son
While other politicians are busy issuing statements from their offices, Ramesh Arora, BJP MLA, has waged a war against dengue without any support from the party. For him, ensuring better treatment to the needy patients is a real tribute to his son, who died of dengue due to negligence last year. Arora is visiting the GMCH regularly to ensure that patients get better treatment. He has also brought matter to the notice of the Commissioner Secretary, Health, but nothing has been done on the ground. He regretted that the authorities were adopting casual approach in tackling the situation.
