Hospitals brace for more dengue patients
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Hospitals in the capital are scrambling to accommodate the rising number of dengue fever patients.
Although the government has yet to declare an emergency situation, hospitals like Pasar Rebo Hospital in East Jakarta are treating class III patients in the hallways.
Currently, 18 patients at the hospital are being treated in the halls. Five female patients are occupying folding beds in the foyer of the Melati ward, while 13 male patients are being treated in the hallways of the Cempaka ward.
The hospital currently has 22 folding beds vacant, and doctors are anticipating a greater influx of patients.
As of Monday, Pasar Rebo Hospital had treated a total of 48 inpatients for dengue, including 14 children.
One death was reported on Aug. 8 when Devi Permatasari, 7, of Depok died a day after being admitted to the intensive care unit.
The Budhi Asih Hospital in East Jakarta has treated a total of 63 inpatients for dengue, including 24 children. Twenty-eight patients are currently being accommodated on folding beds in the hospital's corridors. The hospital has readied 15 additional folding beds in anticipation of more patients.
According to Niniek Kartaadmadja of the hospital's medical services department, 20 new dengue patients were admitted on Sunday.
"We have opened the foyers outside the adult and pediatric wards for class III patients," said Taufik Rahman, the hospital's inpatient services director.
This month alone, four children have died of dengue fever at the hospital. Irma, 7, of North Jakarta died on Aug. 14, Annisa, 6, of East Jakarta died on Aug. 13, Gunawan, 5, of West Jakarta died on Aug. 9, and Aditya, 9, of East Jakarta died on Aug. 4.
Another city-owned facility in South Jakarta, Fatmawati Hospital, has treated a total of 62 inpatients for dengue, including 13 children. No dengue fever deaths have been reported at the hospital this month.
According to Sumiyati of the hospital's services department, additional space was being opened up for more dengue fever patients.
"It is actually a class II ward but we have set it up as a class III ward by adding six folding beds," she said.
The hospital's inpatient services manager for Ward B, Euis Komarawati, said two wards had been opened for dengue fever inpatients.
"Nineteen of the 30 beds are occupied by dengue fever patients," she said.
City Health Agency spokeswoman Zelfino said on Monday the total number of dengue fever patients from Jan. 1 to Aug. 15 stood at 11,625 with 60 deaths. (004)