Patient dies during 7-hr outage at Mayo Hospital

LAHORE

The Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco), on Sunday, observed a seven-hour long electricity shutdown in Mayo Hospital and adjoining areas reportedly due to under-constructed Orange Line Train in the vicinity.

According to details, the electricity loadshedding was observed from 6am to 1pm on Sunday, which badly affected the treatment services to the patients.

The Young Doctors Association’s Mayo Hospital chapter protested over Lesco’s insensitivity in disconnecting electricity supply to the hospital, saying that a female patient, Kauser Bibi, 35, from Narang Mandi, Sheikhupura, lost her life due to non-availability of a ventilator in North Medical Ward during loadshedding.

Besides, the doctors said, the patients have to face a lot of difficulties as doctors were unable to extend treatment on electricity-driven equipment due to loadshedding. They said that the doctors were forced to keep patients on AMBU bags, which makes it difficult to normalise the breathing and may endanger the lives of the patients.

The doctors, patients and their attendants have urged the government to exempt the hospital from loadshedding and also stop forced shutdowns due to under-construction Orange Line Train in the vicinity.

health service standards: Primary and Secondary Healthcare Secretary Ali Jan Khan directed all districts to ensure compliance with Minimum Service Delivery Standards set by the Punjab Healthcare Commission in the monthly EDOs (H) Conference in the Directorate General Health Services here on Sunday. Punjab Healthcare Commission Chief Operating Officer presented status of compliance with the Minimum Service Delivery Standards in Punjab emphasising that EDOs must not compromise on more basic standards vis-à-vis blood transfusion, infection control, operation theatres, complaint management and fire emergency.The meeting reviewed the status of completion of projects and funds utilisation. “The DG Health said: “The data indicates that presence of staff at DHQs and THQs in evening and night shifts need improvement”. He said that disciplinary action be initiated against violators.

Director Expanded Programme on Immunisation Dr Munir Ahmed said that due to increasing number of measles cases in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the districts bordering these provinces must take special measures, including expediting collection of blood samples of every suspected case and a mop up in the area in case of confirmation.

He also said that polio campaign would be held from May 23 to 25 across the province and all districts must complete their micro-planning. He said that due to the chief minister's focus on immunisation, all vacant positions of vaccinators had to be filled as early as possible.

The Chief Minister's Road Map shared data analysis on safe deliveries, medicine supplies and stocks, MO Presence, biometric attendance by staff and E-vaccs coverage. 

LGH website: The number of visitors of Lahore General Hospital’s website www.lgh.org.pk has reached  284,905 and this number is increasing constantly. The website has been launched in view to sensitise public about various diseases and give them information and guidance to ensure preventive measures. A Facebook page www.facebook.com/lghlahore can also be approached for this purpose.

According to a press release issued here on Sunday, the Post Graduate Medical Institute and Lahore General Hospital (PGMI/LGH) Principal Prof Khalid Mahmood said in this regard that the website was playing very useful role to spread awareness among masses in the backdrop of dengue, polio and other seasonal diseases and epidemics.

He said that the website had been launched in Urdu language making it very effective for all the segments of society. He said that LGH administration was planning to prepare separate pages about various seasonal diseases so as to make the people conscious about coming dangers.

Prof Khalid Mahmood said that LGH along with the Punjab government and Health Department was playing an effective role in the struggle to root out dengue and other diseases. He said that hospital administration was very active to maintain the high standard of cleanliness in the hospital and guide patients and their attendants about how to prevent dengue by adopting hygienic lifestyle. The hospital administration has preserved the record of dengue patients of the past and we are in constant touch with them, he added.