The overwhelming response to the partial lockdown announced by the government goes to highlight the fear that prevails in the minds of people across Goa. On Friday, life in Salcete, Mapusa, Vasco and even Panaji came to a standstill with even businesses permitted to run under restrictions preferring to voluntarily close shop, while pleas for an extended lockdown gained momentum. Close on the heels of legislators appealing for a two-week lockdown, the medical fraternity joined in the chorus with the IMA requesting a 15-day lockdown to break the transmission chain. Is the government listening?
However, even as the State launched into a superficial shutdown, there was another shadow cast upon the fight against Covid on Thursday with the Goa Association of Resident Doctors (GARD) threatening to pull out the 300-odd doctors who are managing the workload at Covid hospitals across the State. GARD cited threats and attacks from patients over lack of beds and other facilities.
While the fight against Covid rages and healthcare facilities lay crippled, no attention has been paid to the doctors and the frontline warriors who are putting their lives on the line and battling to save lives within the limited resources at hand. The medical fraternity which was once hailed as Covid heroes and showered with flower petals from airborne choppers are now left to fend for themselves against all adversities. Who is responsible for the abuse that is hurled on doctors? Is this systemic collapse their making?
In times such as these, there is bound to be despair, frustration, agony and pain let out on doctors because there is a failure somewhere. Why should the doctors be at the receiving end, after doing all the heavy lifting? Are frontline warriors to fend for the crippled infra and the management failure too?
The government is now ramping up health facilities in a desperate bid to accommodate more patients. On Friday, a Covid facility comprising 150 beds in the North Goa District Hospital, Mapusa was notified. The examination hall at GMC has been converted into a 150-bedded Covid facility. How would such bed-capacity enhancement help if there is no corresponding medical staff support? This Covid struggle is not about beds, oxygen, ventilators and machines alone, we need manpower too.
The biggest pitfall of this Covid phase has been that it has been stage-managed and controlled by the political class. Ministers are doing the talking, not the medical experts and doctors. In a grim situation where contrasting views confuse minds, we need medical heads to come forward and bring clarity on the state of affairs. We need professionals telling us the status of beds, oxygen, patients, deaths, treatment, fears, etc. It is baffling that voices of doctors and experts don’t reach the people in a State which boasts about top-notch healthcare.
The frontline healthcare workers continue to toil relentlessly even during a lockdown. They are the foot soldiers of this battle, and the health ministry must ensure that their well-being and lives are safeguarded. They are humans, and they have families to go back to, don’t treat them like robots.
