Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Feb 22: An engineering student hailing from Rajouri town of Jammu region died of suspected swine flu virus in a hospital at Ambala in Haryana this morning.
Identified as 19-year-old Hamid Mirza, son of Nassarulla Mirza, resident of Ward No. 10 Rajouri, the boy was third year student of Diploma Engineering at ICL Engineering College, Ambala. He had come to his home at Rajouri hardly five-six days back.
His cousin also studies in the same college at Ambala. The boy was living in hostel there. He was suffering from fever for the last 2-3 days and had also bad cold. Last evening, Hamid complained of throat pain and some breathing problem and he was taken to a private doctor in the city for check up by his friends last evening.
The family sources said that his cousin and some friends also told them that doctor advised to admit Hamid in the hospital and he was accordingly admitted there during last night. The doctors suspected swine flu and also sent blood samples for tests to Delhi Lab. But he died in Ambala hospital this morning.
After coming to know about the death of their only son, the parents and other relatives from Rajouri rushed to Ambala. The postmortem on the body was also conducted and later, it was handed over to the family. The Medical staff after properly packing the body, handed over to the family members. The test report is expected to be received within three days. The body of the boy was being brought back to Rajouri when the last reports came in late this evening. The residents of Rajouri were in shock after coming to know about this incident.
Director Health Services Jammu, Dr Pathania when contacted said that there was no fresh case of swine flu death reported in Jammu region in last 24 hours. Regarding suspected death of Rajouri engineering student in Ambala hospital due to suspected swine flu, Dr Pathania claimed that he had no such report as yet.
Meanwhile, though some persons including attendants claimed shortage of anti-swine flu drugs and N-95 masks in the GMC Jammu, authorities categorically denied shortage of drugs and masks.
Dr Neeraj Sharma, president, Resident Doctors’ Association in GMCH and Associated Hospitals when contacted, confirmed that there is shortage of N-95 masks and hospital administration is just sleeping on the issue of providing the same to the doctors and paramedical staff of the hospitals.
Director Health Jammu, BS Pathania when contacted for comments on shortage of anti-swine flu drugs and N-95 masks in GMCH, said that they have provided enough medicines and N-95 masks to the hospital administration, which is responsible for further distribution to their patients and doctors, respectively. He disclosed that till yesterday evening, six patients had been tested positive of swine flu in Jammu region. No fresh case was reported today, as 21 reports are still awaited.
Similarly, Principal, GMCH, Dr Ghansham Dev put onus on Medical Superintendent, saying “we have enough anti-swine flu drugs and N-95 masks and if someone is not getting you can confirm the reasons from Medical Superintendent, who is responsible for it”.
GMC Medical Superintendent Dr Rabinder Ratanpal said that they are trying to provide adequate number of masks to doctors in the casualty, OPDs and Chopra Nursing Home. He said there is no shortage of anti-swine flu drugs in the hospital. On the issue of shortage of room for more suspected swine flu patients in Chopra Nursing Home, he said there is no need to worry, as if more patients come they will open 2nd floor for them which till now is closed.
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