Mumbai: Covid-19 war rooms get new role

Staff at work at the war room in Noor Baug (B ward). Pic/Atul Kamble

The ward war rooms that were set up to help COVID-19 patients will get a new role. The BMC will now use these centres to work with patients living with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), like diabetes and hypertension.

All the 24 administrative wards in the city got a war room each when people were desperately looking for COVID-19 beds. These centres then provided patients with appropriate intervention, helping thousands during the pandemic.

"Now, the BMC has decided to give the war rooms a new role. Soon, all the 24 war rooms will be used to manage patients suffering from non-communicable diseases," BMC's Executive Health Officer Dr Mangala Gomare told mid-day.

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"Thousands of patients with diabetes, hypertension and other conditions are currently taking treatment at BMC-run dispensaries and hospitals. But, some patients discontinue their treatment. Now, we will maintain a proper record of such patients, and send out the list to the respective ward war room. There, our staff members will call the patients and convince them to resume the treatment. Besides, we will send out information on NCDs to create awareness," Dr Gomare added.

Civic officials said the war rooms will have a doctor, data entry operators and multi-purpose staff members.

Additional Municipal Commissioner Dr Sanjeev Kumar said, "We are also creating a reminder system, which will send out alerts to patients about follow-up and treatment. Doctors available in the ward war rooms will also counsel patients who left their treatment midway."

In his Budget speech, BMC chief Iqbal Singh Chahal had mentioned about NCDs that are causing severe impact on the health of citizens. In Mumbai, 34 per cent of the population is suffering from hypertension, much higher than the national average of 22 per cent. The national average of diabetic patients is 14.5 per cent, whereas in Mumbai, 18 per cent of the citizens suffer from the condition.

A survey conducted by the BMC revealed that many people lack awareness about NCDs like hypertension and diabetes.

24
No. of administrative wards in the city