The death of a 14-year-old girl, Reeda Sheikh, in Pune has created panic among people. Reeda Sheikh died of the 2009-H1N1 influenza. People have panicked in spite of the claims made by both the federal and State Governments that all precautionary measures have been taken. The diseases that has become a source of panic and dread in Europe took the life of the 14-year-old girl Reeda Sheikh, the first such incident in India. Her death has falsified all claims that there were scant chances of the disease spreading in India. The reports coming from several parts of the country manifest that many patients have been found with the symptoms of 2009-H1N1 influenza. These reports also indicate that State Government as well as the Union Government is deeply concerned about the situation.
First Death Case in India
The disease is spreading fast in Maharashtra, where according to latest information the number of persons affected with influenza has reached 172. Several cases of the disease have been found in Jharkhand, Orissa, and Meghalaya. On the whole, the disease has created panic among masses. Following the Reeda Sheikh's death, people rushed to hospitals for testing. The crowd was so large that the police had to be called to control it. Despite the situation appearing to slip out of hand, the concerned official department is not serious. For instance, Pune Municipal Corporation Commissioner Mahesh Jugade believes that the private medical practitioners and hospitals are blowing the disease out of proportion.
What Mahesh Jugade has said could be true, but one wonders about the responsibility of the government and its concerned departments under such circumstances. Only extending the clarifications that private hospitals and doctors are exaggerating the threat is not sufficient. The government needs to launch a concerted campaign against wrong notions and panic that have taken roots among people. Through the campaign, it should inform people the conditions and circumstances under which the disease spreads. If the role of private hospitals and medical practitioners is found wanting in this regard, stern action needs to be taken against them to prevent them from deriving undue advantage.
Careless Attitude of Private Hospitals
The first ever case of death because of 2009-H1N1 influenza is being attributed to the careless attitude of private hospitals. The parents of the deceased Reeda Sheikh have decided to lodge an First Information Report (FIR) against the hospital where she was admitted and treated, and the doctors who treated her. Her parents also intend to approach Consumer Court for compensation. Her parents claim that she died because of the hospital's carelessness.
The Maharashtra Government Health Department has also got a case registered against two hospitals. Yet, the issue does not pertain to a couple of private hospitals or to the state of Maharashtra; it pertains to the entire country. It is the responsibility of the federal and State Governments to evolve a strategy with mutual collaboration and cooperation to control the attitude of private hospitals toward 2009-H1N1 influenza patients. They should also remove all misunderstandings and panic among people so that no other Reeda Sheikh loses her life.
The disease is spreading fast in Maharashtra, where according to latest information the number of persons affected with influenza has reached 172. Several cases of the disease have been found in Jharkhand, Orissa, and Meghalaya. On the whole, the disease has created panic among masses. Following the Reeda Sheikh's death, people rushed to hospitals for testing. The crowd was so large that the police had to be called to control it. Despite the situation appearing to slip out of hand, the concerned official department is not serious. For instance, Pune Municipal Corporation Commissioner Mahesh Jugade believes that the private medical practitioners and hospitals are blowing the disease out of proportion.
What Mahesh Jugade has said could be true, but one wonders about the responsibility of the government and its concerned departments under such circumstances. Only extending the clarifications that private hospitals and doctors are exaggerating the threat is not sufficient. The government needs to launch a concerted campaign against wrong notions and panic that have taken roots among people. Through the campaign, it should inform people the conditions and circumstances under which the disease spreads. If the role of private hospitals and medical practitioners is found wanting in this regard, stern action needs to be taken against them to prevent them from deriving undue advantage.
Careless Attitude of Private Hospitals
The first ever case of death because of 2009-H1N1 influenza is being attributed to the careless attitude of private hospitals. The parents of the deceased Reeda Sheikh have decided to lodge an First Information Report (FIR) against the hospital where she was admitted and treated, and the doctors who treated her. Her parents also intend to approach Consumer Court for compensation. Her parents claim that she died because of the hospital's carelessness.
The Maharashtra Government Health Department has also got a case registered against two hospitals. Yet, the issue does not pertain to a couple of private hospitals or to the state of Maharashtra; it pertains to the entire country. It is the responsibility of the federal and State Governments to evolve a strategy with mutual collaboration and cooperation to control the attitude of private hospitals toward 2009-H1N1 influenza patients. They should also remove all misunderstandings and panic among people so that no other Reeda Sheikh loses her life.
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