Sangli to get 1st COVID-19 hospital under Dr. Pallavi Saple's charge as 24 cases crop up

Maharashtra which has reported highest number of Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, saw a sudden spurt of 24 positive cases from Sangli district on Friday. To tackle this development, Medical Education minister Amit Deshmukh deployed Mumbai's J J Hospital's youngest Dean since 1947 - Dr. Pallavi Saple, who h alrey heed Government Medical College in Sangli's Miraj for three years. Taking ministrative charge of two colleges -  Government Medical college, Sangli and Government Medical College, Miraj, Saple said that she planned to set up Maharashtra's second dedicated COVID-19 hospital in Miraj, in an exclusive conversation with Republicworld.

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Dr. Saple sets up dedicated COVID-19 hospital in Sangli

Speaking about how she got involved in COVID-19 battle in Sangli, she said, "Sangli h a sudden spurt of cases (24) yesterday of COVID-19. As I h previously been posted to Sangli for three years, I was told to report this afteron under directions of our Medical Education minister Amit Deshmukh. collector's office is currently tracing contacts of se four cases who h returned from Umrah (Mecca). While y were told to be in home quarantine, y did t move out much but rar entertained people at ir home."

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Talking about how biggest challenge for her was to flatten curve, she said that she aimed to maintain rise in number of cases in a linear fashion like - Japan and South Korea, while preparing for exponential rise - like case was in Italy or Spain. She ded that hence, she decided to bifurcate two hospitals attached to two medical colleges into a dedicated COVID-19 hospital and a n-COVID hospital. Since taking charge on Saturday afteron, Saple said that she h alrey shifted 90% of n-COVID patients (130 patients) to Sangli while keeping 24 COVID patients in Miraj - turning it into a dedicated COVID hospital.    

"We do t kw if we are going South Korea and Japan way or Italy and Spain way. But we have to prepare for Spain way. I have been given ministrative charge of Grant Government Medical College, Sangli and Government Medical College, Miraj along with two medical hospitals placed nine kilometres apart," she said.

She ded, "In Miraj, we are planning to have a separate hospital dedicated only for COVID-19 inste of having some isolation beds in a big hospital. We have alrey shifted 90% of n-COVID patients - 130 n-COVID patients in total - to Sangli hospital, which will function as dedicated n-COVID hospital. Only patients who are ventilated and women who have given birth have t been shifted, which will be done tomorrow morning."

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Sangli's COVID hospital with testing lab, training centre

two colleges which have 1000 doctors along with paramedical workers, who can be shuffled have prepared 270 beds and 10 ICU beds in anticipation of a higher number of positive cases. Moreover, Saple ded that she is currently in talks with government to set up a testing centre in Miraj within a couple of days as samples h to still be transported to Pune. While she has claimed that hospital is equipped with equate medical supplies, she warned that even if one patient is missed, 500 new cases will crop up- for which she is currently preparing. To t let any patient's medical needs go unmet is Dr. Saple motto as Maharashtra's cases soar to 180. 

"Sangli will have a separate OPD ward with testing lab and training of all personnel. We will have close to 270 beds re and 10 beds for ICU. Even if one patient is missed, in a matter of 10-15 days, he can potentially infect 500 people. My job has two aims - COVID patient has unmet health needs and n-COVID patient should be neglected - as y also have indirect fatalities of COVID," she said.

She ded, "Doctors are working under umbrella of two medical colleges -  we have 400-500 resident doctors, 200 faculty doctors, final year students and interns and private practitioners who want to help.  re also retired doctors but we are t opting for those as senior citizens suffer most. se 1000 doctors with paramedical workers can be shuffled between both hospitals. While samples are currently being tested in Pune, we are pushing to get a testing centre soon here itself and it should be up in a few days. As of w, we have equate medical supplies, but we are preparing for worst as number of cases may increase."

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Sangli's 24 COVID-19 positive cases

A family of four who h returned from Mecca h tested positive on Friday. After being vised home quarantine, family met with or family members at ir home - infecting 20 or members. Currently, Sangli collector's office is tracing those who came in contact with family, as y reportedly 'entertained guests at home'. All positive testing members have been isolated at Miraj Hospital and are t in critical condition yet.