Snehamoy Chakraborty
RAMPURHAT, Jan. 18: Now that the deadly H5N1 virus has reared its ugly head in the state once again, the health department has asked authorities of the Rampurhat SD Hospital to keep its isolation ward ready to tackle possible outbreaks of Bird Flu in the area.
However, since the outbreak of Bird Flu in Malda, the hospital has covertly been acting as a residency for the staff.
A 10-bed isolation ward furnished with the necessary equipment, including a ventilation machine, was set up in the hospital after the outbreak of Bird Flu in the district last year. The isolation ward was then put under lock and key, and the ventilation machine moved to the hospital's operation theatre.
Later, two of the ward rooms started being used as a residence by Mr Hajibur Sheik, a member of the hospital staff, and three of his family members. Mr Sheik's wife claimed that the family moved into the ward rooms after receiving the go ahead from hospital officials.
The hospital's superintendent, Dr Himadri Haldar, claimed that he was not aware the ward was being used as a residential quarter by employees. “We shifted the costly machines from that ward so that they would not be damaged or stolen. The ward was locked to keep it safe, and will be readied to treat patients when it is needed.”
Mr Sheikh was not available for comment.
When contacted, the district's chief medical officer of health, Dr Sunil Kumar Bhowmik, said that the isolation ward of three SD hospitals in Rampurhat, Suri and Bolpur were readied for Bird Flu patients after an order was received from the state health department.
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