Over 100 COVID positive CRF patients administered dialysis in midst of COVID-19 scare at BYL Nair Ch Hospital

Dr Kalpana S Mehta, her team of doctors, nurses, RMOs, technicians, ward boys, sweepers all contributed selflessly in the endeavour

In a very significant development, more than 100 COVID positive chronic renal failure (CRF) patients have been administered dialysis treatment in the midst of the COVID-19 scare in Mumbai at BYL Nair Ch Hospital. This was thanks to noted nephrologist and professor Dr Kalpana S Mehta and her team. The medic at BYL Nair Hospital with over three decades of service to humanity heads the nephrology department at Nair Hospital and despite the lockdown has been successful in running three shifts armed with a bunch of didactic workers. –  Her team of doctors, nurses, RMOs, technicians, ward boys and sweepers have all contributed selflessly in the endeavour. “We had to enrol more technicians as per the need and were ably supported by the administrative team and the head office. What basically helped us do these 100 plus-patient dialysis are the larger number of machines and committed technicians who overcame their fear to work relentlessly,” says Dr Mehta. 

A bit of prognostication did aid the medical fraternity considerably. “We saw that Wuhan and Italy were affected due to the virus and knew that it was coming. We showed our team the videos on how to take care of oneself, how good hygiene and etiquettes can help. Getting over the fear didn’t take as long as expected and in 7-8 days they had a full-fledged commitment,” she admits with a degree of nonchalance.

Dr Mehta says that manpower was an issue in the beginning specially to get the right kind of people handle the equipment. “The problem was the technician man power. Before we became COVID-friendly two of our resident doctors became positive through two patients and we were down to 50 per cent of staff. The second factor was that one of the faculty members was in Seven Hills and there was a lot of work pressure,” she says.

The doctor praises the dialysis technicians for their resilience in trying times. “The technicians are all in the age groups of 29-45 and they haven’t complained even once or any resistance. They are the ones doing the dialysis with the doctors monitoring them. My permanent technicians are with me for a long time but these new enrolled technicians who have just come in and are between 22-25 , are also working without any fear.  I am lucky to have these people,” she manages to eke out a smile.

Dr Mehta also says that a lot of people who came in to help like Taj Vivanta and Swami Narayan temples for the medical staff to stay back as they came from far off regions -apart from providing food. “Other donors came in giving personal protection equipment (PPE)s, masks and food packages and drinks including peanut bars and protein bars. We got help from Amar Gandhi Foundation (AGF) and a few others too. The cleaners and nurses are forever on their toes. Had anyone lacked anywhere, we could and cannot start the next shift on time and that never happened including reaching the hospital on time for their shifts,” she says.

Tired, but happy that her team’s efforts have saved many lives.