Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 25: Supporting the protest demonstration organised by para medical staff in GMC Jammu against the Govt’s apathy towards their genuine concerns, NPP chairman and former Minister has further condemned the State Govt for discriminating against Jammu region even with regard to provision of basic health facilities including diagnostic labs for detection of swine flu.
In a press statement Mr Singh alleged that SKIMS in Srinagar has been equipped with the facilities for detection of this deadly H1N1 virus, no such facility exists in the entire Jammu region. He said that the disease has created a lot of scare among the people in Jammu region and had the potential to transform into a catastrophe. He said several people suffering from common flu and suspected influenza, desiring a proper diagnosis were deprived of the same due to non availability of diagnostic labs in Jammu region.
NPP leader said that five people of Jammu region who had tested positive for H1N1 influenza had got their blood samples tested from Delhi. He said that detection of 157 cases of swine flu in Kashmir valley was possible only because of the availability of diagnostic facility in SKIMS where a ‘Dedicated Respiratory Medicine OPD’ had been established in addition to a separate ICU and isolation wards. He pointed out that in Kashmir a city based Kashmir Health Services, regional partner of Lal Path Lab located at Karan Nagar Srinagar was authorized to conduct the H1N1 test on a concessional rate of Rs. 4000. He said that in Kashmir the Health Deptt. has constituted teams under Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) which are taking throat swabs of suspected cases and getting the samples tested in SKIMS for H1N1. He regretted that no such facility was provided in Jammu with patients being advised to get their samples tested from ‘National Institute of Communicable Diseases’ and other private labs which were charging around Rs. 9,000 for swab tests for swine flu.
He said that early detection could facilitate early treatment thus saving the precious lives afflicted with the dreaded disease. He said that in Jammu as the suspected cases were still getting their samples checked from Delhi, the time taken in the process could cause damage to the affected person.
Urging upon the State Governor to intervene so as to ensure provision of lab facilities, investigative kits and free drugs besides other requisite steps for arresting the spread of the killer virus, he said that workshops should also be organized to bring awareness amongst the people of the state particularly in rural and remote areas about the symptoms of the disease.
Follow our WhatsApp channel