NEW DELHI: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was shifted to VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital on Saturday morning after completing 20 days of his indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar, less than 48 hours after the Union health ministry placed three central government hospitals on alert and designated Dr Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital as the nodal centre for any medical emergency involving the protesters.On Thursday, the health ministry directed medical teams from RML Hospital, VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital and Lady Hardinge Medical College to conduct twice-daily health examinations of Wangchuk and other participants of the hunger strike. It also asked hospitals to deploy round-the-clock nursing staff, keep emergency medical support ready and submit daily health reports, following a request from Delhi Police over concerns that the protesters’ health could deteriorate.Earlier on Friday, a medical team from VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital examined Wangchuk and the other protesters at the protest site.According to Wangchuk’s medical team, as of 9.30 am on Friday, he showed signs of mild dehydration and weighed 56.55 kg, having lost 350 grams in the previous 24 hours as he entered Day 20 of the fast. His blood pressure was 108/68 mmHg, blood sugar 70 mg/dL and pulse 72 per minute. Doctors said he had entered the third stage of prolonged fasting, where organ involvement is possible, and remained under round-the-clock medical monitoring.
