Panaji: With an aim to provide the required assistance to patients to ensure a complete recovery from COVID-19 and its post-recovery complications, Manipal Hospital, Goa announced the launch of Manipal Pulmonary Rehabilitation Centre to take care of Out-Patient (OP) and Internal-Patient (IP).
The after-effects of COVID-19 recovery may potentially include ailments like Pneumonia and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) which may require assisted breathing support. Due to inflammation caused by ARDS in the lungs, patients may experience lung fibrosis where the lungs will get scarred, resulting in long-term complications.
Speaking about the launch, Head of Pulmonology – Manipal Hospital, Goa Dr Prabhu Prasad N.C said, “The major problem of COVID-19 is its after-effects on our health. The patients may experience various complications like fibrosis and it’s even more problematic if you are suffering from other chronic diseases like asthma, diabetes, etc. COVID-19 attacks your respiratory system and it becomes critical to get access to the right kind of healthcare to treat post-COVID complications. This new Pulmonary Rehabilitation Centre aims to assist and provide care to the patients suffering from different post-COVID complications through various treatments, procedures, and several lung functions strengthening exercises.”
Additionally, he also mentioned that, “This World Lung Day will be of high prominence as there is a dire need for us to practice and promote the importance of better lung health to fight against COVID-19. Every individual should take these 6 pledges – (i) I will help someone stop smoking (ii) I will help myself stop smoking (iii) I will walk more to reduce pollution (iv) I will help stop the spread by hand wash and wearing a mask (v) I will be an advocate for clean air (vi) I will get access to effective vaccinations, to embrace upon a future with a better world health.”
Adding to this, the Hospital Director Manish Trivedi said, “The number of COVID-19 recoveries have been significant, but one thing we observed in our out-patient pulmonary clinic is the increasing number of patients complaining about post-COVID complications like fibrosis, oxygen deficiency, etc., months after getting cured of COVID-19. COVID-19 demands a different approach to the way healthcare is being provided and we aim to address this issue through our pulmonary Rehabilitation Centre and ensure that the patient recovers completely from COVID-19. Also, with today being the World Lung Day, I urge every individual to give utmost priority to their lungs’ health and take all the necessary measures to be safe and healthy.”
The newly launched Manipal Pulmonary rehabilitation centre is equipped with state of the art Norwegian Rehabilitation workstation, Redcord. Redcord is a suspension and sling based exercise system which is unique in the sense that it has an advantage of customised exercise therapy with perfect balance to prevent falls and injuries especially in sick and elderly individuals. The Centre is teamed up with experienced Respiratory Therapist, Psychologist, Nutritionist with the leadership of interventional Pulmonologist for the perfect disease based prescription of rehabilitation services. The cost of the Comprehensive Post COVID Pulmonary rehabilitation packages are varied depending upon the type and no of days of exercise being advised for each patient.
