Srinagar, June 17:The Health Department of Kashmir has set up state-of-the-art critical care facilities to handle emergencies during the annual AmarnathYatra, which begins next month.
According to officials, even though the Yatra is held during peak summer, the weather remains unpredictable due to the high altitudes, as temperatures can fall, which is deleterious to health.
According to Yatra officials, there are some high altitude emergencies caused by reduced air pressure and lower oxygen levels at high altitudes, such as high altitude pulmonary edoema (HAPE) and high altitude cerebral edoema (HACE).
Dr Mir Mushtaq, spokesperson for the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir, stated that these illnesses could be fatal if not detected and treated promptly. “We have made plans to deal with all types of emergencies, including high-altitude emergencies,” he said.
Specialists such as physicians, cardiologists, respiratory physicians, orthopedicians, anesthesiologists, and others have been made available and deployed at base hospitals.
“There is always the possibility of high altitude casualties, and six base hospitals have been established on both the Chandanwadi and Balthal sides,” he said.
Mir stated that whatever diagnostics are required for cardiology have been put in place. “During cardiac events, patients require thrombolysis, which is also available,” he explained.
Similarly, regarding trauma, all the diagnostics have been made available like x-ray and USGs at high altitude places to tackle any medical emergency.
“We have already established protocols for how to manage these patients, how to evacuate them when necessary, and who to contact,” he said.
The health department in Kashmir held a meeting on Saturday with senior health officers and officials to discuss patient management protocols.
Each year, two 100-bed DRDO hospitals are established on both the Chandanwadi and Balthal sides, with full pilgrim facilities.
“Previously, casualties were reported as a result of cardiac events. However, over the years, we took several steps, such as posting cardiologists and establishing intensive care units in Baltal and Chandanwadi, as well as other critical care facilities at base hospitals,” Mir explained.
“It is a major task to run an ICU, especially in such a setting with critical care specialists.” “The DRDO hospitals have piped oxygen as well as liquid oxygen,” he said.
Notably, the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir has planned to set up 55 medical stations en route to the AmarnathYatra, with stations located both in Pahalgam and Baltal.
All the healthcare facilities in the vicinity of transit routes will have emergency response systems in place including adequate manpower round the clock.
He said the oxygen manifold system will be made functional at Sonamarg, Baltal, Holy Cave, Lower Holy Cave, Panjtarni, Sheshnag and Civil Hospital Pahalgam.
The spokesperson said that 1,790 employees would be deployed for Yatra duties in four shifts and the requirement of 883 staff has been requested to the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
Further, tertiary care facilities like SKIMS Soura, SKIMS Bemina, Government Medical Colleges will be kept on ready mode during Yatra for handling any referral cases.
Thus the bigger challenge for the government and its departments is to provide facilities and create conditions that can help alleviate all difficulties and make this Yatra easy.
