Pulse Newsletter - Issue 3 - January 2012 - Apollo Bramwell Hospital
Pulse Newsletter - Issue 3 - January 2012 - Apollo Bramwell Hospital
Pulse Newsletter - Issue 3 - January 2012 - Apollo Bramwell Hospital
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<strong>Newsletter</strong>: <strong>Issue</strong> 3 | <strong>January</strong> ’<strong>2012</strong><br />
inside<br />
2nd Anniversary Celebrations<br />
Heart Centre with a difference<br />
New Alcohol Treatment Centre<br />
My early start to life<br />
Emergency Situations<br />
2<br />
4<br />
6<br />
7<br />
8<br />
I am Marine. I celebrated my first<br />
birthday a few months ago and with all<br />
the wisdom of a 19 months old toddler,<br />
I can now tell you my experience of<br />
having been born preterm . . .<br />
My early<br />
start to life...
Message from<br />
the CEO<br />
<strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong><br />
A few years ago, it became clear that Mauritius and<br />
this part of the world desperately required advanced<br />
healthcare. Many people were required to travel abroad<br />
for high end treatment. Others would unfortunately suffer<br />
a medical condition that could have well been treated if<br />
they could afford the trip.<br />
The vision to create a world class medical facility<br />
here, in Mauritius, was not like any other vision. It was<br />
to be one of the boldest contribution to the country’s<br />
healthcare.<br />
So what would the hospital be like? It wasn’t good<br />
enough to create a clinic. <strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong> would not only<br />
be state of the art but under the guidance of Chairman<br />
Dawood Rawat and the expertise of <strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong>s<br />
India, it would be a leading-edge facility known for<br />
exemplary, nationally and regionally recognised medical<br />
care.<br />
Two years have elapsed since their dream became<br />
reality bringing unprecedented transformation to the<br />
medical landscape of the country.<br />
Since 2009, the hospital has been continuously<br />
and successfully establishing pioneering benchmarks<br />
in healthcare in Mauritius and the region. The hospital<br />
boasts a great number of medical ‘firsts’ - stem cell<br />
therapy and regenerative medicine, complex spinal<br />
surgeries and advanced oncology surgical services to<br />
name a few. I am happy to say that we are working on<br />
many more ‘firsts’ which are in the pipeline for our third<br />
year of operation.<br />
At the same time, as the management team of<br />
<strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong> continues to escalate its commitment<br />
to patient-centred care, the list of satisfied patients<br />
continues to grow.<br />
During the last 24 months more than 100,000<br />
consultations and medical procedures have been effected,<br />
over 4,000 complex surgeries have been performed, over<br />
600 babies were given birth, over 300,000 lab tests have<br />
been conducted, countless lives were saved.<br />
We have celebrated a milestone. That of a heritage in<br />
the making. And all of you have played a significant role<br />
in the success and accomplishment of <strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong>.<br />
This is about the dedication of the whole team of<br />
<strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong> – doctors, nurses, technicians, front<br />
liners and management. A big thank you as well to our<br />
insurance partners and suppliers for your continued<br />
support. Recognising the crucial role of referring doctors,<br />
I wish to extend our heartfelt appreciation to each of<br />
you for your support and collegial way you work with<br />
us to help provide the best possible care to our patients.<br />
And finally, thank you to all Mauritian and international<br />
patients who have and continue to trust us as your<br />
preferred provider of medical care.<br />
Looking ahead, we know our responsibility is to<br />
continually seek out new ways to improve everything<br />
we do as a world class organisation. My commitment to<br />
you is that we are driven by sustainable progress and will<br />
continue to work tirelessly to <strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong>’s continued<br />
success through its third and many years to come.<br />
Thank you<br />
Mrs Valerie Rawat, CEO<br />
We welcome suggestions for future<br />
articles from patients, visitors and<br />
business partners. Please email your<br />
suggestions to info@apollobramwell.com.<br />
No part of this newsletter may be<br />
reproduced without the written<br />
permission of <strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong>.<br />
All rights reserved 2011 by British<br />
American <strong>Hospital</strong>s Enterprise Limited.<br />
Since its operation, the private hospital has treated over 80,000<br />
local and international patients. It has conducted 100,000<br />
consultations and medical procedures, 4,000 complex surgeries,<br />
20,000 examinations and interventions to emergency services, 325,000<br />
laboratory tests, 50,000 diagnostics (radiology) and 4,000 preventive<br />
checkups. Mr Dawood Rawat, Chairman of Seaton Investment, thanked<br />
all the hospital’s staff for their dedication. “When people come to us, it is<br />
because they are in distress. We need to show compassion towards them<br />
and take care of them with dedication. This is not about making money”,<br />
he said to the audience.<br />
He mentioned that <strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong><br />
wants to provide quality service as well as<br />
ensuring comfort to the patients’ relatives in<br />
the waiting room. He announced that British<br />
doctors will soon join the team of <strong>Apollo</strong><br />
<strong>Bramwell</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong> as the French doctors did.<br />
More than 80 million USD were invested in<br />
this hospital project to meet international<br />
standards.<br />
According to Mrs. Valérie Rawat, CEO of <strong>Apollo</strong><br />
<strong>Bramwell</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong>, the success story of the<br />
<strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong> began several years<br />
ago. Two friends, Mr. Rawat and Dr. Reddy met<br />
and had a common dream for Mauritius: to<br />
fulfill the need of advanced medical services<br />
previously unavailable in the region.<br />
“Two years later their dream became a reality,<br />
bringing an unprecedented transformation<br />
in the medical sector of the country”, said<br />
Mrs. Rawat before an audience of insurance<br />
representatives, partners, suppliers and<br />
medical and non-medical representatives.<br />
Dr. Pratap C. Reddy, whose message was<br />
read by its Chief Financial Officer, Mr. S<br />
Venkataraman through videoconference,<br />
discussed the work done by the hospital with<br />
a state-of-the-art technology in just two years<br />
of operation. He reiterated to continuously<br />
share the expertise of his group with the<br />
Mauritian hospital.<br />
SOME FACTS<br />
No. of treatments 80,000<br />
No. of Consultations and medical procedures 100,000<br />
No. of Complex surgeries 4,000<br />
No. of Examinations and interventions to emergency services 20,000<br />
No. of Laboratory tests 325,000<br />
No. of diagnostics (radiology) 50,000<br />
No. of preventive checkups 4,000<br />
2<br />
<strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong> <strong>Pulse</strong> | <strong>Issue</strong> 3, October’11
celebrates its 2 nd anniversary<br />
Interview with<br />
Dr. Pratap C. Reddy,<br />
Chairman,<br />
<strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong>, India<br />
<strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong> celebrates its<br />
two years of operation. How did this<br />
facility improve the standard of medical<br />
care in Mauritius and the region?<br />
<strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong> has developed<br />
high-level hospital services in the region.<br />
With internationally recognized consultants<br />
in their specialties, the impact of <strong>Apollo</strong><br />
<strong>Bramwell</strong> was immediate through the<br />
provision of advanced clinical care - that<br />
hospitals in the region would most likely<br />
want to do. <strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong> has<br />
created a new standard that will contribute<br />
significantly to support the growth of quality<br />
healthcare benefits.<br />
“Super specialists” from <strong>Apollo</strong> India<br />
regularly visit Mauritius for surgery<br />
or advanced training sessions. Why is<br />
this continued sharing of expertise and<br />
experience important?<br />
Ongoing sharing of clinical expertise is<br />
essential to the strengthening of such<br />
programme. The <strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong>s Group,<br />
with expertise in over 28 advanced<br />
specialties, is a pioneer in research and<br />
application of procedures, techniques<br />
and latest technology whose results are<br />
consistent with international standards.<br />
The new facilities forming part of the<br />
<strong>Apollo</strong> Group has the advantage of<br />
benefiting from the experience of super<br />
specialists. For them, the <strong>Apollo</strong> structure is<br />
advantageous because it allows them the<br />
rapid establishment of their own clinical<br />
programme. There is no need to start from<br />
scratch. There are existing procedures<br />
and protocols, implemented under the<br />
supervision of renowned consultants, which<br />
give clinical outcomes.<br />
Mauritius aspires to become the medical<br />
hub of the region. According to you,<br />
what will be the role of <strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong><br />
<strong>Hospital</strong> in this project?<br />
<strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong>, like all hospitals<br />
under the management of <strong>Apollo</strong> India, is<br />
built on four pillars of medical excellence:<br />
clinical care, patient care, high technology<br />
and values. This recipe was the initial success<br />
of <strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong>s, which has emerged as<br />
a preferred international destination for<br />
medical care. I have no doubt that <strong>Apollo</strong><br />
<strong>Bramwell</strong> will become an excellent centre of<br />
reference in the region, leaving evidences in<br />
clinical excellence at international level.<br />
<strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong> <strong>Pulse</strong> | <strong>Issue</strong> 3, October’11<br />
3
HEART CENTRE WITH A DIFFERENCE<br />
The Heart Centre at <strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong> is one of the most<br />
advanced in the region. We offer seamless, integrated, complete<br />
cardiac care ranging from comprehensive preventive checks to<br />
major interventional surgeries.<br />
Cardiac Emergency Services<br />
<strong>Apollo</strong> Cardiac Emergency offers expedient<br />
and high quality emergency cardiac care<br />
to the patient. It is designed to provide<br />
immediate medical attention to individuals<br />
with symptoms suggestive of heart disease.<br />
We have established Golden Hour Protocols for<br />
the care of critical patients and the principles<br />
of Advanced Cardiac and Life Support (ACLS)<br />
are applied for the prompt and efficient<br />
treatment of cardiac patients. Our Emergency<br />
Ambulances are equipped with:<br />
<br />
electrical stimulation for cardiac arrest or<br />
severe bradycardia (slow heart rate).<br />
<br />
in case of insufficient respiration or<br />
respiratory failure.<br />
<br />
medical personnel in coronary emergency<br />
care and transportation.<br />
Since cardiac problems cannot be treated<br />
in isolation, we use a multi-disciplinary<br />
approach that monitors the patient in every<br />
aspect before proceeding with a method<br />
of treatment. At the Heart Centre, you will<br />
have access to the latest state-of-the-art<br />
diagnostic tools, all under one roof, while<br />
our experts, and well trained staff ensure<br />
that you are in the safest hands.<br />
We specialise in the management and<br />
treatment of heart attacks, coronary artery<br />
and valvular diseases and arrhythmias. We<br />
perform the entire spectrum of cardiac<br />
surgeries. Our highly skilled surgeons<br />
perform complicated coronary artery bypass<br />
(CABG) operations, surgery for all types<br />
of valvular heart disease and infant and<br />
neonatal heart surgeries.<br />
Our Heart Centre is equipped with the<br />
latest innovations in cardiology that aid in<br />
accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.<br />
It houses advanced technology such as<br />
a 64-slice dual source CT scanner, a flatpanel<br />
cardiac catheterization lab (Cath<br />
Lab), a 3-D eco-cardiography and a 1.5 T<br />
MRI. The combination of our state-of-theart<br />
technology, expert cardiologists and<br />
cardiovascular surgeons enables us to<br />
provide broad treatment options, including<br />
recommendations for lifestyle modification.<br />
Cardio Thoracic Surgery<br />
Our cardiac surgeons have performed<br />
thousands of cardiac surgeries at a worldclass<br />
success rate. Our skilled surgeons are<br />
experts in the following fields:<br />
· Coronary artery disease<br />
· Elective or emergency surgery for aortic<br />
aneurysm<br />
· Surgeries for lung & mediastinal diseases<br />
· Peripheral vascular surgeries<br />
· Heart failure, Marfan Syndrome and other<br />
less common conditions.<br />
· Arrhythmia surgeries<br />
· Valve repairs and replacements, isolated<br />
and also with Coronary Artery<br />
Bypass grafting (CABG) and carotid<br />
endarterectomy (isolated and with CABG).<br />
Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery –<br />
Beating Heart Surgery<br />
With expertise in all aspects of minimally<br />
invasive approaches which provide access to<br />
direct visualization of all vascular zones and<br />
internal anatomy, our cutting edge tools and<br />
techniques allow our surgeons to perform<br />
minimally invasive beating heart operations<br />
for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG). Our<br />
surgeons are committed to ensuring longterm<br />
patency of grafts thereby reducing the<br />
need for repeat surgeries.<br />
Interventional Cardiology<br />
The range of diagnostic and therapeutic<br />
procedures offered at <strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong><br />
<strong>Hospital</strong> includes coronary and peripheral<br />
angioplasty and stenting with drug-eluting<br />
stents; balloon valvuloplasty; nonsurgical<br />
closure of holes in the heart for conditions<br />
such as Atrial Septal Defect (ASD), Ventricular<br />
Septal Defect (VSD) and Patent Ductus<br />
Arteriosus (PDA); and interventional<br />
cardiac procedures such as implanting an<br />
Implantable Cardiverter Defibrillator (ICD).<br />
Our team of Cardiologists have performed<br />
thousands of diagnostic procedures and<br />
interventional procedures.The Heart Centre’s<br />
world-class facilities, such as the Cath<br />
Lab, Critical Care Units and Intensive Care<br />
Units make us a leading Centre of Cardiac<br />
Excellence in the region.<br />
Preventive Heart Check Packages<br />
<strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong> offers<br />
comprehensive Cardiac Health Check<br />
Packages. Recommended for anybody or in<br />
circumstances with possible cardiac risk, our<br />
<strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong> Cardiac Check (ABH CC) and<br />
<strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong> Advanced Cardiac Check<br />
(ABH ACC) include a comprehensive set of<br />
tests providing complete information on the<br />
status of one’s cardiovascular system and<br />
include a consultation with a cardiologist.<br />
The <strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong> Advanced Cardiac Check<br />
includes every test in the ABH CC package as<br />
well as a cardiac scan using the 64-slice dual<br />
source CT angiography, making it the ultimate<br />
heart check.<br />
FACTS AND FIGURES<br />
As per Mauritius, Non-Communicable<br />
Diseases Survey 2004, the prevalence of<br />
diabetes among those aged 30 years and over<br />
was found to be 19.3%. On the other hand,<br />
the prevalence of hypertension in<br />
the age group 30 years and above was around<br />
30%.<br />
The prevalence of overweight and obesity in<br />
2004 was 35.7 % with more women than men.<br />
Overall, 35.9% of males and 5.1% of females<br />
(aged 20-74 years) were current smokers in<br />
2004.<br />
The prevalence of abusive alcohol intake in<br />
males was 19.1% in 2004 and the prevalence<br />
of adequate (moderate or heavy) physical<br />
activity in the age group 35-54 years was<br />
24.5% among males and 9.5% among females.<br />
4 <strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong> <strong>Pulse</strong> | <strong>Issue</strong> 3, October’11
Take care of your heart so<br />
that it can take care of you!<br />
the benefits. But, even moderate-intensity<br />
activities help if done regularly and long<br />
term. Physical activity can help control blood<br />
cholesterol, diabetes and obesity, as well as<br />
help lower blood pressure in some people.<br />
To gain most benefit you should do at least<br />
30 minutes of exercise very often (at least five<br />
days a week).<br />
Medical assistance to<br />
International and local<br />
runners at the “Dodo Trail<br />
2011”<br />
What Is Coronary Artery Disease?<br />
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), also called<br />
Coronary Heart Disease, is a condition in which<br />
plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries<br />
which prevents oxygen rich blood to be<br />
supplied to the heart muscle.<br />
Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol calcium,<br />
and other substances found in the blood.<br />
When plaque builds up in the arteries, the<br />
condition is called atherosclerosis.<br />
Plaque narrows the arteries and reduces blood<br />
flow to the heart muscle. Blood clots are more<br />
likely to be formed in the arteries. Blood clots<br />
can partially or completely block blood flow.<br />
What are the major risk factors you can<br />
modify, treat or control by changing your<br />
lifestyle or taking medicine?<br />
Tobacco smoke - Smokers’ risk of developing<br />
coronary heart disease is 2-4 times greater<br />
than non-smokers. Cigarette smoking is a<br />
powerful independent risk factor for sudden<br />
cardiac death in patients with coronary<br />
heart disease. However, exposure to smokers<br />
increases the risk of heart disease for nonsmokers.<br />
- As blood<br />
cholesterol rises, so does risk of coronary<br />
heart disease. When other risk factors (such<br />
as high blood pressure and tobacco smoke)<br />
are present, this risk increases even more. A<br />
person’s cholesterol level is also affected by<br />
age, sex, heredity and diet. We advise to have<br />
a cholesterol check if aged 40 or more, or if<br />
you have a strong family history, it is advised<br />
to have a check.<br />
- High blood pressure<br />
increases the heart’s workload, causing the<br />
heart to thicken and become stiffer. It also<br />
increases risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney<br />
failure and congestive heart failure. When<br />
high blood pressure exists in parallel with<br />
obesity, smoking, high blood cholesterol<br />
levels or diabetes, the risk of heart attack or<br />
stroke is higher. Treatment is advised if your<br />
blood pressure remains high and regularly<br />
check your blood pressure at least every 3-5<br />
days.<br />
- An inactive lifestyle is a<br />
risk factor for coronary heart disease. Regular,<br />
moderate-to-vigorous physical activity helps<br />
prevent heart and blood vessel disease.<br />
The more vigorous the activity, the greater<br />
Obesity and overweight - People who<br />
have excess body fat - especially at the waist<br />
- are more likely to develop heart disease<br />
and stroke even if they have no other risk<br />
factors. Excess weight increases the heart’s<br />
work. It also raises blood pressure and blood<br />
cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and lowers<br />
HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels. There is also<br />
a risk of developing diabetes. Losing even<br />
as few as 10 pounds, can help lower heart<br />
disease risk.<br />
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a relationship<br />
between weight and height that is associated<br />
with body fat and health risk. The BMI can be<br />
used to know your ideal weight.<br />
- Diabetes seriously<br />
increases your risk of developing<br />
cardiovascular disease. Even when glucose<br />
(blood sugar) levels are under control,<br />
diabetes increases the risk of heart disease<br />
and stroke, but the risks are even greater if<br />
blood sugar is not well controlled. About<br />
three-quarters of people with diabetes die of<br />
some form of heart or blood vessel disease.<br />
If you have diabetes, it’s extremely important<br />
to work with your healthcare provider to<br />
manage it and control any other risk factors.<br />
Eat a healthy diet. Briefly this means:<br />
<br />
variety of fruit and vegetables per day.<br />
<br />
based foods (such as cereals, wholegrain<br />
bread, potatoes, rice, pasta), plus fruit and<br />
vegetables.<br />
<br />
full-cream milk, oily food, butter (use low fat<br />
spreads) and so on.<br />
<br />
one of which should be ‘oily’.<br />
<br />
poultry such as chicken.<br />
<br />
sunflower, rapeseed or olive oil.<br />
Limit your salt intake - Adults should eat<br />
no more than 6g salt a day. This is about a<br />
teaspoon of salt. About three quarters of the<br />
salt we eat is already in the foods we buy. By<br />
simply checking food labels and choosing<br />
foods with lower salt options, it can make a<br />
big difference. Also, try not to add salt to food<br />
at the table.<br />
The Dodo trail, recently organised by<br />
the Dodo Travel & Tours, a running trail<br />
linking two fabulous tracks crossing the<br />
island from the South to the West.<br />
Three trails were set: an ultra 80-km<br />
mountain race departing from La Cambuse<br />
public beach, 33-km Ti-dodo trail from Pétrin<br />
and a 10-km mini-dodo trail from Yémen.<br />
Out of 350 subscriptions from international<br />
and local runners including Rodrigues,<br />
320 runners aged between 6 to 68 yrs old<br />
participated in this 1st edition international<br />
trail. In collaboration with Vertical World Ltd,<br />
<strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong> emergency and<br />
medical team was proud to assist the whole<br />
trail at different strategic places.<br />
Participation in IOSHM<br />
(Institution of Occupational<br />
Safety & Health Management)<br />
2-Day Exhibition<br />
The <strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong> participated<br />
in the IOSHM exhibition “Safety Excellence<br />
through Integrated Management Systems”<br />
at Caudan Waterfront as a foremost partaker<br />
and player in the promotion of occupational<br />
safety and health in Mauritius.<br />
The exhibition stretched over 2 days where<br />
11 governmental and non-governmental<br />
organizations took part. It was good a<br />
opportunity to showcase <strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong><br />
<strong>Hospital</strong>’s expertise in health safety and to<br />
interact with health and safety professionals<br />
and the general public. The exhibition<br />
was marked by the public eagerness and<br />
willingness to learn about health and safety<br />
issues and the hospital services.<br />
<strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong> <strong>Pulse</strong> | <strong>Issue</strong> 3, October’11<br />
5
News<br />
ALCOHOL TREATMENT<br />
CENTRE LAUNCHED<br />
Dr Bhaya at congress<br />
The largest medical exhibition and medical<br />
conference of Africa, “ Africa Health Congress<br />
2011” was held at the Johannesburg Expo<br />
Centre, Nasrec South Africa in May 2011.<br />
This was a major 3-day exhibition and<br />
congress presenting a diverse range of<br />
topics relating to healthcare in Africa, and<br />
which has attracted thousands of healthcare<br />
professionals from the region and around<br />
the world to its doors. Dr. Anil Bhaya,<br />
Chief Radiologist, and Director Advanced<br />
Diagnostics & Digital Heath Care at <strong>Apollo</strong><br />
<strong>Bramwell</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong> was invited as a faculty<br />
member at this conference. The faculty<br />
comprised of leading experts from France,<br />
South Africa, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Uganda and<br />
Namibia. He delivered three presentations<br />
highlighting the importance and relevance<br />
of Imaging in investigation of Urinary<br />
Tract Disorders, Jaundice and commonly<br />
encountered Sports Injuries.<br />
<strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong><br />
<strong>Hospital</strong> Partners with<br />
<strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong> proudly announces the<br />
signing of an agreement between Vanbreda<br />
International and <strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong>.<br />
Vanbreda International has been taking<br />
care of the expatriates community since<br />
1958. The company is a market leader in<br />
the development and administration of<br />
cross-border health insurance and employee<br />
benefits programmes. Vanbreda has built<br />
up a network of 10,000 medical service<br />
providers across the globe, bridging the<br />
gap between cultures, languages and<br />
borders, enabling plan members access to<br />
quality health care wherever they are. By<br />
becoming a Vanbreda International partner,<br />
<strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong> has access to 330,000 plan<br />
members worldwide. This partnership gives<br />
us the opportunity to expand our visibility to<br />
a new international patient base.<br />
The ABSA Cape Epic 2011<br />
This event was Africa’s greatest mountain<br />
biking meet with over 400 participants.<br />
<strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong> proudly sponsored<br />
the Mauritian team that finished 177th<br />
overall and 119th in men’s category. The<br />
participants covered a total track of 707km<br />
in more than 40 hours of riding during 8<br />
days through beautiful, arid and hostile<br />
landscapes of Africa.<br />
A<br />
t last, Mauritians with alcohol<br />
problems can now be cared<br />
for in a state-of-the-art facility<br />
which shows they deserve as<br />
much support and respect as those with<br />
other types of health issues. This new service<br />
will offer advice, support and treatment for<br />
people with alcohol-related problems.<br />
Since alcohol addiction affects more than<br />
just one part of the body or life, a treatment<br />
solution is more than ever needed.<br />
Therefore a holistic approach is necessary to<br />
help treat this addiction for good.<br />
Indeed at our new Alcohol Treatment<br />
Centre, patients can get the individualized<br />
treatment and support they need to heal<br />
their body, mind and spirit - ensuring that<br />
the road to recovery is a permanent one.<br />
We have already conducted 22 successful<br />
alcohol detoxification and rehabilitation<br />
cases by providing our clients with a high<br />
quality, comprehensive treatment process<br />
that is cost effective and centered on their<br />
particular needs.<br />
Set in a comfortable and discrete<br />
surrounding, our Alcohol Treatment<br />
Centre offers a more serene and soothing<br />
environment. It attracts clients from all over<br />
the country and from abroad.<br />
Our team consists of Physicians, Psychiatrists,<br />
Psychologists, Specialist Nurses, Counsellors<br />
and Dieticians. Dr Anil Jhugroo, Consultant<br />
Psychiatrist, has worked in various Alcohol<br />
Treatment Centres in London and, with the<br />
help of Australian Addiction Specialists,<br />
has pioneered new treatment of addiction<br />
in Mauritius. Our Physicians include Dr<br />
Vikrant Sibartie, Consultant in Internal<br />
Medicine and Liver diseases, Dr Jai Kant<br />
Mishra, Consultant in Internal Medicine<br />
and Dr Manish Jambavalikar, Consultant in<br />
Gastroenterology and Liver diseases.<br />
The Alcohol Treatment Centre has<br />
been set up to help patients overcome<br />
the devastating effects of alcoholism.<br />
Alcoholics and their families often feel<br />
isolated. This is just one of the problems<br />
associated with alcoholism. We understand<br />
what alcoholics and their families go<br />
through and stand ready to put together a<br />
series of treatment options and techniques<br />
to help them achieve happiness and success.<br />
We offer a variety of treatment options for<br />
alcoholics and their families. Our goal is<br />
to assist our patients to make them lead a<br />
better life that is free of alcohol addiction.<br />
At the Alcohol Treatment Centre, we<br />
assist our patients, through passion and<br />
commitment, to help them find the courage<br />
to choose a life of recovery from alcohol<br />
addiction. We welcome clients from all walks<br />
of life and we address an array of problems.<br />
We work with children at risk, support<br />
clients in recovery, and offer a wide range<br />
of treatment options for adults and teens.<br />
We lead individuals and families affected<br />
by alcohol addiction from disruptive to<br />
productive lives.<br />
Types of Alcohol Treatment:<br />
<br />
who have had serious alcohol problems for<br />
some years, have already tried but failed to<br />
get sober or who feel that they would not<br />
have the support or strength to complete<br />
an out-patient programme.<br />
<br />
for patients who have less severe alcohol<br />
addictions, insufficient time to participate<br />
in an in-patient programme or possibly<br />
who are on the second stage of recovery<br />
after an in-patient programme.<br />
If you are in need of immediate assistance<br />
or would like more information, call our<br />
Alcohol Treatment Centre on 605 1000.<br />
A patient recently mentioned: “Receiving<br />
treatment in an environment as bright and<br />
welcoming as the Alcohol Treatment Centre<br />
will be a massive boost to those in need.”<br />
By Dr. Jhugroo,<br />
Consultant Psychiatry<br />
6 <strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong> <strong>Pulse</strong> | <strong>Issue</strong> 3, October’11
I am Marine. I celebrated my<br />
first birthday a few months ago<br />
and with all the wisdom of a 19<br />
months old toddler, I can now tell<br />
you my experience of having been<br />
born preterm . . .<br />
MY EARLY START TO LIFE<br />
I<br />
took<br />
my mummy by surprise on<br />
30th May 2010. She had started with<br />
stomach ache the night before and<br />
thought it was some indigestion.<br />
She knew I was not due to be born until<br />
end of July. But little did she know that I<br />
had developed a sudden urge to see the<br />
outside world! As her pain got more and<br />
more severe, she knew that I was up to some<br />
mischief and took herself to that brandnew<br />
world-class hospital in Moka. Once<br />
she got there her Obstetrician confirmed<br />
that, well, my mind was made up and there<br />
was no stopping me! Mummy was given an<br />
injection and she was told, this is to help<br />
my lungs mature so that I will not have any<br />
breathing difficulty at birth.<br />
a lot – and I could sense everybody was<br />
relieved when I gave that oh so expected<br />
cry. I have a vague memory of some ladies<br />
in pink outfits rubbing me dry soothingly<br />
and then all of a sudden Aie! It was my turn<br />
to have an injection now. What on earth<br />
was that for? Of course I yelled like mad<br />
and I later understood it was an injection<br />
of Vitamin k given to all newborn babies to<br />
prevent bleeding problems. Ok, fair enough.<br />
I was then taken to a special room full of<br />
fancy equipment called the NICU (Neonatal<br />
Intensive Care Unit) where I got weighed.<br />
Wait for it – 1.875kg I was! By the expression<br />
on everybody’s face, I could sense I was a<br />
wee bit too small. I was then placed into<br />
a strange cot with doors and windows,<br />
designed just for little babies like me. I am<br />
told it is called an incubator and designed<br />
to keep me warm. Of course, it was not as<br />
comfortable as being in mummy’s womb<br />
but I felt quite safe in it.<br />
kangaroo care – which I must say works<br />
wonders for maintaining my temperature<br />
and promote the bonding between mummy<br />
and me.<br />
I was a real fighter and made progress in<br />
leaps and bounds. By the time I was 6 days<br />
old, I was able to maintain my temperature<br />
and was able to come out of my incubator. I<br />
was placed in a cot (just like the big babies)<br />
and all my tubes were removed. I felt a lot<br />
more relaxed then. You know what I mean, I<br />
could stretch my legs to my heart’s content<br />
without fear of dislodging anything now!<br />
I eventually started to breast feed and that<br />
was total bliss! Mummy seemed to have an<br />
unlimited supply of that wonderful stuff. I<br />
am told her excellent milk production has<br />
something to do with Grandma Therese<br />
Coq-au-Vin recipe! I really got a different<br />
strength in me then and I could not wait for<br />
the day when I would finally go home.<br />
I was in such a rush to come out that I came<br />
out legs first, unlike most babies. Quite<br />
a thrill that was, but the expert hands of<br />
mummy’s Obstetrician guided me out<br />
safely. Of course I was so exhausted by this<br />
experience that I totally forgot to cry or<br />
breathe! Luckily my Paediatrician was there<br />
to get me breathing – not the usual slap<br />
on the bum you see them do in Movies, of<br />
course not. She has a special contraption<br />
that helps to inflate my lungs until I start<br />
breathing on my own. Breathing on my own<br />
turned out not to be as hard as I expected –<br />
the injection mummy received really helped<br />
It was totally see-through and everybody<br />
was peeping at me. So no privacy at all<br />
there but the purpose is so that my doctors<br />
and nurses can keep a very close eye on me<br />
and my every move. Not that they did not<br />
trust me, but more just in case I stopped<br />
breathing again or if I got into any mischief<br />
and started pulling off my tubes. And mind<br />
you, there were lots of tubes everywhere on<br />
me. A tube in my nose to give me oxygen,<br />
one in my hand to give me fluids and<br />
medication, another one in my mouth for<br />
feeding, little leads attached to my chest to<br />
continuously monitor my heart beat and<br />
respiration.<br />
It was quite funny when the monitor<br />
alarmed. All my doctors and nurses would<br />
jump to attention and check me over to<br />
make sure my breathing and heart beat was<br />
fine. So I really had to be extra careful not<br />
to dislodge any of these leads and tubes, or<br />
else my nurses would get annoyed at me.<br />
The best part of the day for me was<br />
undoubtedly when mummy and daddy<br />
came to visit me. I could see their concerned<br />
faces through the glass, but they would<br />
smile bravely for me and then would open<br />
the incubator window to hold my hands.<br />
As I got stronger, my nurses would take me<br />
out of the incubator for a cuddle and some<br />
And that day finally came. I was then 8<br />
days old. My doctors and nurses were very<br />
happy with my progress. There were lots of<br />
emotional good-byes, with mummy being<br />
given plenty of advice of how to cope with<br />
me at home. Everything went well at home<br />
and I had to come for regular visits to have<br />
my weight and development checked. I was<br />
such a good feeder, if not a bit greedy, that<br />
my doctor was always very pleased with my<br />
weight gain. Of course I was very good at<br />
taking my daily vitamins too. I also had visits<br />
with the eye specialist and for a brain scan.<br />
Luckily I got the all-clear from all of them.<br />
So that’s me, Marine, now aged 19 months.<br />
My doctor says that looking at me now,<br />
nobody would guess I was born preterm. I<br />
can do all the tricks that are expected from<br />
me for my age, and even more, such as<br />
emptying nicely piled drawers and dumping<br />
everything on the floor, which usually gets<br />
aunt Marie pulling her hair out!<br />
By Dr. Faeza Soobadar,<br />
Consultant Paediatrics and Neonatalogy<br />
<strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong> <strong>Pulse</strong> | <strong>Issue</strong> 3, October’11<br />
7
Emergency Situations: What you need to know!<br />
By Dr. Rao Koteeswara Narasimhalu, Consultant Emergency Medicine and Family Physician.<br />
<strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong> provides a hi-tech<br />
“<strong>Hospital</strong> on wheels” Ambulance<br />
service 24 hours /day. Whenever<br />
there is an emergency do not<br />
hesitate to call our Ambulance hot line “132”.<br />
The Ambulance team will be available at<br />
your door step anytime anywhere you are!<br />
When to call an Ambulance?<br />
The following situations need Ambulance<br />
Service immediately:<br />
Unconscious person - Who doesn’t wake<br />
or respond when shaken or called.<br />
Chest pain - Especially if it is crushing pain<br />
on centre of the chest or feeling of unusual<br />
indigestion which lasts more than five<br />
minutes. The pain may spread to arms and<br />
jaw. Beware it could be heart attack.<br />
Breathing difficulty - Especially if the<br />
person is unable to speak more than a few<br />
words or has blue lips or mouth.<br />
Bleeding - That does not stop after at least<br />
10 minutes of continuous pressure.<br />
Burns - Which are bigger than the size of a<br />
hand and/or cause severe pain that is not<br />
relieved with simple painkillers or if the<br />
person has difficulty in breathing.<br />
Choking - Especially if the person is unable<br />
to talk, cry or breathe.<br />
Convulsions or fitting - Call the<br />
ambulance for all type of convulsions or<br />
fitting particularly if they have no history<br />
of convulsions (for example Epilepsy ) It<br />
could be damage, bleeding or tumour in<br />
the brain.<br />
Drowning, near drowning, diving or<br />
scuba accident - The Ambulance should<br />
be called even if the person is conscious as<br />
there may be fluids in the lung which may<br />
endanger the person soon.<br />
Stroke - If the person experiences sudden<br />
onset of weakness, numbness, loss of<br />
function of hand, arm or leg, slurred<br />
speech, facial droop or severe abrupt<br />
headache. Complete recovery of illness is<br />
possible the earlier the patient is rushed to<br />
the hospital.<br />
Severe headache - Sudden onset of<br />
unusual kind of throbbing headache, with<br />
or without loss of function of arm or leg. It<br />
could be a case of internal bleeding inside<br />
the brain.<br />
Motor vehicle accidents - If you think<br />
someone has been injured call the<br />
Ambulance even if a person is breathing<br />
or conscious after the accident. It is better<br />
to check with a medical specialist as there<br />
could be hidden injuries to the brain,<br />
cervical spine, liver spleen as so on.<br />
Industrial accidents - Any type of<br />
industrial accident where a person is<br />
injured, trapped, or has inhaled smoke.<br />
Severe vaginal bleeding - Any type<br />
of uncontrolled vaginal bleeding with<br />
possible or confirmed pregnancy.<br />
Severe pain after a fall or injury - When<br />
the person is unable to sit up, stand<br />
or walk. It could be a fracture or spinal<br />
cord injury. Ask the patient not to move<br />
unnecessarily as it may cause more severe<br />
damage to the spinal cord or bone.<br />
Haemorrhages - Major uncontrolled<br />
bleeding from any part of he body, nose,<br />
rectum, mouth as so on.<br />
Abdominal pain - Severe abdominal<br />
pain particularly lower right side of the<br />
abdomen, it could be Appendicitis , or also<br />
Ectopic pregnancy in case of females.<br />
Drug overdose or poisoning - Whether<br />
you know for sure or suspect an overdose.<br />
Diabetes - if the person is not fully awake,<br />
excessively sweating or not behaving<br />
normally. It could be low or high blood<br />
sugar both are dangerous to the patient.<br />
Allergic reaction - Especially<br />
with breathing difficulty or loss of<br />
consciousness, itchy, increasing patchy rash<br />
spreading all over the body , or someone<br />
about o collapse soon ,the the ambulance<br />
should be called without delay.<br />
Electrical shock - Of any kind.<br />
Trauma - Severe trauma (Injury), especially<br />
to the head, neck, chest or abdomen - for<br />
example, if the person was stabbed, shot or<br />
hit by an object.<br />
Meningococcal disease - If you see<br />
symptoms like rash, headache, vomiting ,<br />
having difficult to see light ,neck stiffness<br />
with or without fever.<br />
Hypothermia or heat stroke - Particularly<br />
children and old age people who are not<br />
able to tolerate hypothermia and heat<br />
stroke<br />
Severe back pain - After a fall or sudden<br />
onset of back pain if over 50 years. It<br />
could be spinal cord injury or vertebral<br />
column fracture, try not to move until the<br />
ambulance team arrives.<br />
If you’re not sure, call anyway!<br />
Remember, if you are unsure what is<br />
happening to a person in a real Emergency<br />
situation you can always phone “132” for<br />
an Ambulance rescue , our Ambulance<br />
team will guide you or come and assess the<br />
situation at your door step. Our Ambulance<br />
paramedics and experienced doctor<br />
will quickly assess and start emergency<br />
treatment on the spot. Patient will be<br />
brought to the hospital safely and quickly for<br />
further investigation and management.<br />
What should you do before the<br />
Ambulance arrives?<br />
1. Approach the patient safely (your safety<br />
comes first).<br />
2. Move the patient to a safe area (if needed)<br />
for e.g. moving the patient from oil spill,<br />
fire area, middle of the busy traffic and<br />
so on. Do it cautiously without further<br />
damage to the patient in critical condition.<br />
3. Shake or call the patient. If the person is<br />
not responding, call for help.<br />
4. If you are trained in BLS (Basic Life<br />
Support), start chest compression and if<br />
possible do mouth to mouth breathing.<br />
5. If there is severe bleeding due to any type<br />
of injury, try to apply direct pressure on<br />
the bleeding site.<br />
When a life and death situation arises, every<br />
second counts! Call the <strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong><br />
Ambulance Hot line number “132”. Our<br />
expert Ambulance team is available 24 / 7<br />
with our “<strong>Hospital</strong> on wheels”.<br />
For any queries or for more information, Please call us on: (230) 605 1000 | Fax: (230) 6051100<br />
or email us on info@apollobramwell.com<br />
<strong>Apollo</strong> <strong>Bramwell</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong>, Royal Road, Moka, Mauritius | www.apollobramwell.com<br />
A member of the Bramser Group<br />
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