THE GOAN I NETWORK
MARGAO
With the Health Services gearing up to face the Covid crisis, 150-year-old Hospicio has not lagged behind in the battle against to contain the disease
for over a month now.
The specialized OPDs in the hospital may have been shut, but the emergency OPDs have all been open, catering to the emergency health needs ofthe populace. In fact, Hospicio had all geared up on Monday to open all the OPDs upon government instructions, before realization dawned that the government had planned to start only the periphery centers catering to the rural populace.
Around 250-odd visitors made their presence felt at Hospicio on Monday after news spread that the government will open the OPDs from Monday. The patients, after due inquiries, were all attended by the doctors and nurses.
Deputy Health Director and Hospicio Medical Superintendent Dr Ira Almeida informed that people can walk in the emergency OPDs, with the hospital setting up 10 desks manned by doctors.
Dr Ira pointed out that some of the OPDs are open from 8.10 am in the morning till 4 pm to avoid overcrowding. While the ESI hospital,
Margao, has been notified as a dedicated Covid hospital and the TB hospital and the Margao Residency converted into quarantine centres Hospicio has been playing its own role in the ongoing battle.
“We have a dedicated Covid CMO round-the-clock. A help desk has been set up which is manned by office staff to separate those with travel history and respiratory symptoms and put quarantine stamp,” she added.
The Hospicio Medical Superintendent said that the hospital has plans to provide free of cost cloth masks for all the patients visiting the hospital.
“We have appointed an officer to ensure no under-use or overuse of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)”, she added.
The hospital has put in place ORACT - Occupational Risk Assessment and Counselling Team in place for oneto- one and on-call counselling
for health workers, Dr Ira said, adding that a psychiatric team has been constituted to counsel positive patients and also those in quarantine. Even as the Hospicio hospital was all geared up to fight the battle, the hospital set up respiratory wards at the TB hospital atop the Monte Hill. “Dedicated respiratory/Covid OPDs with a testing booth have been set up,. ”, she said.
Dr Ira added: “We have set up a dedicated OT to handle deliveries of suspects. Helpline 2705664 has been put in place for senior citizens who want home delivery of medicines”
she said, adding that daily briefing and debriefing is being undertaken to assess situation, update on changing guidelines.
