Contaminated water in Gostivar overburdens Tetovo hospital
Tetovo's Clinical Hospital says it has treated over 200 patients referred from Gostivar after local water supply was declared contaminated.
Contamination of the municipal water supply in Gostivar has forced the closure of operating and delivery rooms at the town's General Hospital, creating a sustained overflow of patients at the Clinical Hospital in Tetovo, hospital officials report.
Since mid‑July more than 200 patients from Gostivar have sought medical care and surgical treatment in Tetovo. The first wave began on July 19, with the largest number of referrals arriving at the gynecology department — chiefly women needing cesarean deliveries.
Tetovo hospital expands capacity as referrals rise
"At the gynecology department we have an increased frequency of patients referred from the General Hospital in Gostivar. A total of 12 patients gave birth with us who had been previously announced by the obstetrics department in Gostivar. The treatment is the same and we have the conditions to treat these patients who are referred to us because of this unpleasant situation," said Eldiar Zilbehari.
The pressure is not limited to obstetrics. Urology has recorded 10 surgical procedures and over 50 consultations for patients from Gostivar, while orthopaedics and abdominal surgery have also seen noticeable increases.
"Recently, due to the situation in Gostivar, there has been an increase in both operations and consultations in urology and generally in the surgical department. In our unit there have been about 10 interventions for prostate surgery and stone removal. There is also an increase in the number of patients coming for urological consultations, around 50 or more. A similar rise has occurred in digestive abdominal surgery. In digestive surgery 9 patients from Gostivar were operated on, and 45 consultations were performed. In abdominal surgery there are 3 operations and 37 consultations. Likewise, there are more consultations in orthopaedics, where the number reaches 60 consultations and two orthopaedic operations," said Dr. Florim Deari.
Hospital management in Tetovo say they currently have the capacity to accept and treat the incoming patients despite the continued rise in referrals.
Meanwhile, the operating rooms in Gostivar will remain closed by order of the Ministry of Health until official test results confirm that the drinking water is completely safe.
QUESTION OF THE WEEK | More than half of respondents doubt the safety of the drinking water.
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