The Ministry of Health (MOH) has established a Long COVID-19 clinic at the Arima General Hospital, a one-stop solution shop catering for patients who have suffered mild and/or severe strains of the virus.
Speaking during the MOH’s virtual media briefing on Saturday, the hospital’s Medical Director Dr Ravi Lala claimed that more than 500 patients had been seen since its inception last October.
Long COVID is when a patient feels the effects of COVID-19 that continue for weeks or months beyond the initial illness.
Symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, difficulty sleeping, anxiety and depression, heart palpitations, chest tightness or pain, joint or muscle pain, not being able to think straight or focus which is referred to as brain fog, change in smell/taste, and a persistent cough.
Appearing alongside epidemiologist Dr Avery Hinds, Lala explained the process requires patients to have a specialised referral letter before the pre-visit screening can be set up via a phone call.
He said it was necessary so that medical officials can better understand the patient ahead of time.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said post COVID-19 conditions can occur in individuals with a history of a probable or confirmed viral infection.
This usually presents three months from the onset of COVID-19, with symptoms that last for at least two months and cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis.
Lala said entry into the Executive Wellness Clinic was done via several methods.
He outlined, “Within our own hospital systems, we self-refer patients to our clinic. Secondly, our forms for admission into the clinic have been widely distributed throughout our Regional Health Authorities. Other members of staff within our system could refer via the form. Patients could take the form, come to Arima General and deposit the form at the CSR's desk in our lobby and the form then gets processed."
Interested people can email execwellness.agh@ncrha.co.tt for more information.
