AIIMS experts visit Ahmedabad, say timely treatment is key

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Ahmedabad, May 9 () Coronavirus needs to bedestigmatised so that people get treatment in time which willhelp reduce the mortality rate, All India Institute of MedicalSciences (AIIMS) Director Dr Randeep Guleria said here onSaturday.

Dr Guleria who is a noted pulmonologist and Dr ManishSoneja of AIIMS Department of Medicine visited the CivilHospital here and held discussions with its staff amid rapidlyrising number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the city.

Ahmedabad city's COVID-19 mortality rate is 6.5 percent, almost double that of the country at 3.3 per cent.

The two interacted with resident doctors of thehospital seeking their inputs about treatment of COVID-19patients and provided expert guidance, officials said.

Gujarat Principal Secretary (Health) Jayanti Ravi wasalso present.

The visitors from the AIIMS, flown in by a special IAFaircraft on Friday, later met Chief Minister Vijay Rupani andDeputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel at the CM's residence inGandhinagar.

Speaking to the media, Dr Guleria said the stigmaattached to coronavirus was contributing to the high mortalityrate as people delay getting examined for fear of beingquarantined and stigmatised as infection carrier.

It was therefore important to destigmatise coronavirusso that people get treated in time, he said.

It was also important to protect the elderly and thosewith comorbid conditions (having other chronic health issues)from getting infected, and such persons should approachhospitals at the earliest to avoid health complications, hesaid.

"Because of the fear of getting bad name or gettingquarantined, some patients are scared of visiting hospital orgetting tested. When they are positive and come late, itraises chances of mortality," Dr Guleria said.

"Several times, lives of patients with mild symptomsgetting low oxygen supply in blood can be saved if they getproper oxygen supply following timely treatment. Low oxygenaffects their heart and lungs, and this increases theirchances of death.

"If they have symptoms which can be that ofcoronavirus, they should get tested, isolated, to save theirlife with early diagnosis and treatment, and also save theirnear and dear ones from getting affected," he said.

Dr Guleria also praised the facilities created by thegovernment for the treatment of coronavirus cases.

It was important to fight the disease at the communitylevel rather than at the hospital level, he said."Healthcare workers, residents, nursing staff, haveto together fight the pandemic....Community participation isvital. People have to come forward to reduce mortality andspread of transmission," he said.

The two AIIMS doctors were flown here at the requestof Chief Minister Vijay Rupani to Union Home Minister AmitShah, state officials said.

Gujarat has so far reported 7,797 coronavirus casesand 472 deaths. 5,540 cases and 363 deaths have been reportedin Ahmedabad alone. KA PDKRK KRK