Care at Wenlock hospital helps special child win against Covid-19

Care at Wenlock hospital helps special child win against Covid-19

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Aug 22, 2020:   When the three-year-old girl child with Down Syndrome was wheeled into the ward in Covid designated Wenlock Hospital, the first thing the pediatrician Dr Basith Ali did was to counsel and instill hope in the distraught parents, recollects Abdul Rehman.

 

The parents, Fathima and Kabir, from Krishnapura, had given up hopes of seeing their daughter alive after the private hospital, where the special child was first admitted, had declared that the child was in a critical state.

To make matters worse, the private hospital had refused to provide free treatment under Ayushman Bharat scheme as the child was not referred to them by Wenlock Hospital.

“The parents after consulting activist Ummar U H and placing trust in the almighty took a bold decision on shifting the special child from private hospital to Wenlock Hospital on the evening of July 29,” said Rehman, who is a relative of the parents.

Dr Basith Ali told DH that Rohi was the first down syndrome child with Covid-19 and pneumonia to have been admitted to the hospital.

“The child could not be placed on ventilator immediately as she suffered a dislocation of bone in the neck, which is common among children with Down Syndrome,” Dr Ali said.

A team of doctors, led by Dr Ali, began treating the child immediately and allowed her mother Fathima to stay with her.

Rehman said in the first few days, the dadis and nurses attended on the child for every two hours changing her soiled diapers and so on.

He said the constant care and attention given to the child had raised hopes in the mother on the first day of admission. The recovery was slow and soon the child was on her feet.

Rehman said that Wenlock Hospital suffers from acute staff shortage and equipment. “But instead of venting frustration on social media, one should place themselves in the shoes of the staff in the hospital,” he added.

He appreciated the manner in which the staff and doctors toiled to ensure that the child did not suffer due to lack of facilities.

“When it was not possible to install ventilator, Dr Ali with help from Wenlock Hospital Superintendent, Dr Sadashiva Shanbhogue and RMO
Dr Saldanha had borrowed a high flow Oxygen device,” Rehman said.

On August 18, a festive atmosphere prevailed in hospital when the special child was ready to return home.

Rehman said that the parents brimming with happiness distributed roses and sweet packets to Dr Ali and members of his team.

“My team members Dr Chandan Pai, Dr Rajesh and Dr Ravi Kiran also played an important role in the child’s amazing recovery,” Dr Ali added.

Courtesy:Deccan Herald