Trinidad & Tobago : Dengue patients occupy two wards in Sando hospital

Via News Day :

" TWO wards of the San Fernando General Hospital have been designated for dengue cases only , due to the amount of persons testing positive with dengue fever.

But although Newsday visited the hospital and saw two of the wards packed to capacity with approximately a total of 31 dengue patients who were covered with mosquito nets, there were claims up to late yesterday by officials at the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) that there was in fact only one ward - Ward 7 designated for dengue patients, and not Ward 8.

Ward 7 was known as the medical extension which had initially been earmarked for treating persons with high blood pressure and sugar. But this ward Newsday learnt, in the past had also been designated for patients who had tested positive with the H1NI virus.

Ward 8 Newsday also learnt however accommodates patients with eye , throat and other problems.

Even until yesterday evening the relocation process continued and patients, both male and female, after being admitted to the hospital have been relocated to Ward 7 while others were taken into Ward 8.

However hospital sources yesterday said while there were also still dengue patients singled out at different wards being attended to. Dengue patient, Florence Dwarika, 48 of Carapichaima, told Newsday yesterday that she was transferred from Ward 15 to Ward 7 on Monday. “First I was at Ward 15 after I came from the emergency section downstairs, but I spent only some hours there, then they moved me to this ward. I came up here and everyone else was covered with the mosquito net, and I realised everyone here was like me with dengue too.”She explained. Dwarika who said she was rushed to the hospital after she began experiencing “high fever” and headaches said she believed it was better to situate all the dengue patients together. “I think this is a good idea what they did by placing everyone who have dengue together, because it would be manageable for all the doctors and nurses.” she said. Adding that all the medication for dengue patients would be readily available. “You know instead of having one dengue patient here, and another in a next ward, and another there, put all together and you know other patients would be watching you because you have dengue. Now everybody in a ward together.” Dwarika said."