Ground Report: Amid heatwave, beds full at Ballia hospital; DM pulls up staff over unused ACs

The hospital has been in focus ever since it saw an uptick in the number of deaths attributed to the heat wave – between June 15 and 20, a total of 80 people admitted there have died, with officials acknowledging that in several cases, the scorching temperatures have been a factor.

At Ballia hospital, beds full; DM pulls up staff over unused ACs

People suffering from heat-related ailments at the district hospital in Ballia, UP, Tuesday. (AP)

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At the only government hospital in Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia district, the in-patient department (IPD) is full. Around 200 patients occupy an equal number of beds, with more streaming in through the day. The two doctors attending to them have their hands full, but a slight drop in temperatures on Tuesday – 41°C from 43°C a day earlier – has brought them much-needed respite.

The hospital has been in focus ever since it saw an uptick in the number of deaths attributed to the heat wave – between June 15 and 20, a total of 80 people admitted there have died, with officials acknowledging that in several cases, the scorching temperatures have been a factor.

On Tuesday, though, the hospital saw fewer deaths – “three or four”, according to the hospital’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Jayant Kumar.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Chief Medical Superintendent S K Yadav said a majority of those who died were senior citizens who were already suffering from ailments, and were admitted to this hospital when their health deteriorated because of the heat.

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“A majority of them were elderly and suffering from issues such as diabetes, respiratory illness. They were getting treatment at bigger institutes such as Institute of Medical Sciences – Varanasi, AIIMS Delhi, and AIIMS Gorakhpur,” he said.

CMO Kumar said the numbers aren’t usually this high every year, and the excessive heat appeared to have exacerbated the condition of those with comorbidities.

At the hospital’s emergency department, the beds were occupied by patients across age groups – from 18 to 75. Most were hooked to a saline water drip, and some said that for any additional medicine that was needed, they were asked to visit shops outside.

In a visit on Tuesday to the hospital — which sees a footfall of around 2,000 a day including patents and attendants — district magistrate Ravindra Kumar took a stern view of some of the arrangements, issuing a show-cause notice to the store officer for not installing air-conditioners that were lying unused in a storeroom.

Both the IPD and emergency had two coolers each, while two ACs had been installed at the IPD a couple of days ago.

Looking inside the room where around 15 ACs were kept, he asked staff: “So ACs are kept here. If they aren’t used in summer, will they be used in winter?”

During his inspection of the emergency wards, he called a contractor and asked him to ensure cleanliness, warning him that an FIR will be registered against him if he does not comply. Among grievances aired by the kin of patients was the absence of a water dispenser, and just a single functional tap outside the emergency.

Families of some patients at the hospital said the harsh summer combined with erratic power supply had made matters worse. The family of Shanti Devi (70), from Dharampura in Ballia, said they rushed her to the hospital after blood started oozing from her mouth and nose on Tuesday afternoon.

As she lay in front of a cooler, her son Shivashankar said she has a history of heart disease and was being treated at IMS Varanasi. He said there was no power supply at their home the whole day, and his mother complained of uneasiness in the afternoon.

“During the day, we get power for a few hours. We don’t have a cooler, just a fan,” he said.