Infra to uninterrupted oxygen supply,
dist hospital now has class facilities
South Goa District Hospital.
Dr Ira Almeida
Dr Deepa Correia
MARGAO: A gradual decline in Covid positivity cases has come as a big relief to the health care workers and managers, working tirelessly since the virus first raised its ugly head in the state in March last year. Even most of the Covid hospitals, including the ESI hospital, Margao has been de-notified and has resumed its normal operations in view of the decline in cases.
At the South Goa district Covid hospital, however, a sense of urgency is palpable amongst the managers and administrators, but for a different reason. In anticipating of the third Covid wave, which experts and scientists have warned to be deadlier than the first and second wave, hospital managers are leaving nothing to chance. Having been caught unawares during the second wave, health care managers at the South district hospital are bracing up to face the third wave.
Leading the team to ramp up the facilities and tone up the infrastructure at the South district hospital is the Member of the State Task Force, and Sr Pediatrician, Hospicio Dr Ira Almeida and Hospicio Medical Superintendent Dr Deepa Correia.
The duo along with the outgoing Nodal officer, Dr Rajesh Patil, has been through it that the district hospital is equipped with the best of amenities for children likely to be hit during the third wave.
Right from infrastructure and putting in place equipment to ensuring uninterrupted oxygen availability to beefing up the manpower, Dr Ira and her team has seen to it that things are put in place in anticipation of the third wave.
Take note, the South Goa district hospital has already commissioned a 61 bedded dedicated ward for children, besides a seven bedded High Dependency Unit (HDU) and a 12-bedded unit and Special newborn care unit (SNCU). Says Dr Ira: “We have put in place the required infrastructure keeping in mind the requirement of the children as it is feared that the third wave may affect people below `8 years of age.”.
Besides, most of the equipments are not available on site, with the installation of infant warmers, syring pumps, Multipara monitors, Phototherapy machines, Paediatric ventilator and HFNCs at the district hospital.
On the human resource front, the hospital has identified around 20 staff nurses, most of whom have undergone hands-on capacity building training. The Multi-tasking staff workers, which play a crucial role in Covid management, has also been identified for site-specific infection control training.
“We had training on preparedness for Covid in Paediatrics held by MoHFW. Besides, training for Physiotherapists for Paediatric chest physiotherapy have been completed earlier this month”, Dr Ira said.
Besides, a system is being put in place to engage with social welfare bodies to identify and social welfare bodies and to identify and support children orphaned due to Covid-19. Pediatric consultation and clinical guidance at Covid Care Centre for marginalised and orphan children is run by a NGO.
Dr Ira said the Pediatric OPD at Hospicio has stared surveillance amongst children 0-18 years of age, attending the OPD, even as she pegged the current positivity rate at 22 per cent.
To improve diagnostics and imaging, the South district hospital will play host to a Slice CT-Scan machine. Site readiness is underway at the hospital.
HOSPICIO HOSPITAL
Crisis Intervention
Centre Initiatives
>> Walk-in bereavement counselling services (Mondays to Saturdays) at OPD 26
>> Group therapy (bereavement counselling) every Tuesday (3-4 pm) at TB Hospital, Margao
>> Virtual rejuvenation sessions for healthcare workers on emotional self-care every Sunday 8 pm, with international expert as Resource Person
Scaling up Covid surveillance and testing
>> Conventional RT-PCR laboratory commissioned at SGDH on 24 June
>> Antigen testing at railway station for incoming passengers
>> Antigen testing of difficult to reach population at Malbhat, Margao
Unlike second wave fiasco, full focus on oxygen this time
MARGAO: With oxygen shortage the cause of many Covid deaths in the state during the second wave, a host of measures have already been put in place at the South Goa district hospital as a precautionary measure.
Hospicio Medical Superintendent, Dr Deepa Corriea said the district hospital has put in place systems in place for the third wave.
In addition to the 5600 capacity Liquid Medical Oxygen tank, Dr Corriea pointed out that a 600 litres per minute Oxygen Generation Plant has been installed at the hospital.
That’s not all. The hospital is all geared up to commission a 960 litres per minute oxygen generation plant at the hospital. “The plan is in place and the agency is expected to test the plant within the next couple of days”, she said.
Dr Ira further said Dr Gayatri Kalyanshetty, Sr Anaesthetist, Hospicio has been appointed as a nodal officer for Oxygen supply and maintenance of delivery system. Training of in house MTS workers on maintenance of oxygen delivery system is also in the pipeline.
