THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Covid wards in Medical Colleges have been equipped with FM radio and library so that patients can remain tension-free in wards by listening to music and reading books.

The decision for this arrangement was taken after the finding that the life in isolation wards have made at least some of the patients mentally depressed.

This line of thought came following the suicide of two patients in Isolation wards. The project became a reality soon after it received the nod of Health Minister K K Shailaja.

Three wards with 50 beds each were totally made patient-friendly.

In each ward, 24X7 FM channels and music system were installed. Microphones with amplifier was also arranged to make announcements.

A part of the room was rearranged to make it a library. Besides whitewashing the building, new beds and European closets were added.

In the first phase of treating Covid patients, Isolation rooms were arranged in the pay-wards of Kerala health research Welfare Society KHRWS.

The renovated wards are 14, 6 and 5. As more patients reach the Medical College hospital, five more wards will be renovated in this model,” informed hospital superintend Dr M S Sharmad.