RAWALPINDI: Three government-run hospitals on Wednesday arranged more beds for dengue fever patients as their number is increasing each day.

The hospitals received another 57 patients--Holy Family Hospital 26, Benazir Bhutto Hospital 23 and district headquarters hospital eight-- on Wednesday taking the overall tally to 618.

As a result, the existing dengue wards in the hospitals ran short of beds.

Besides beds, teh RMC Principal Prof. Dr. Mohammad Umer asked the hospitals to make arrangements for more nursing staff and doctors to provide medical care to the dengue patients.

At present 96 dengue patients admitted in Holy Family Hospital (HFH), 49 in Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) and 42 in district headquarters (DHQ) hospital.

Another 57 cases reported at allied hospitals

On Wednesday, the HFH increase the beds from 100 to 135, BBH from 50 to 75 and DHQ Hospital from 50 to 65.

Interestingly, three cases arrived from the Civil Lines where the mostly district government officers like district coordination officer, city police officer and others reside.

Doctors in three hospitals said most dengue cases were reported from Dhoke Ratta, Khyaban-i-Sir Syed, Dhoke Dalal, Fauji Colony, Mohanpura, Lal Kurti, Tench Bhatta, Sadiqabad, Muslim Town, Amarpura, Chah Sultan and adjoining areas.

HFH Additional Medical Superintendent Dr. Tahir Sharif told Dawn that the hospital had made all arrangements for the better care of the dengue patients.

Replying to a question, he said the Punjab government had provided funds for repair of the Cell separator machine in the blood bank.

However, he said initially the dengue patients were put on juices and medicines. When a patient enters in acute phase of the disease he/she was given platelets.

He said no dengue patient had been shifted to other hospitals.

BBH Medical Superintendent Dr. Asif Qadir Mir told Dawn that the beds had been increased in the hospital to accommodate new dengue cases. He said the administration had managed to arrange 10 to 15 extra beds for the emergency situation.

“An emergency meeting of the three government run hospitals will be held on Thursday to discuss the situation and strategy to deal with the influx of dengue patients,” he said.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2014