MARGAO
There’s good news in store on the Covid front. Perhaps for the first time since the deadly second wave overwhelmed the bed infrastructure in two Covid hospitals -- the South Goa district hospital and the ESI hospital, there has been a steady decline in number of patients and as a result more beds were vacant during the weekend.
“It’s a good sign that the admission rate is steadily coming down in the last few days. There were less patients and more vacant beds in South Goa district hospital on Saturday”, informed South Goa District Hospital Nodal Officer Dr Rajesh Patil.
Similar is the situation at ESI hospital. Medical Superintendent Dr Vishwajit Faladesai informed that more than half the bed capacity at the ESI hospital is lying vacant, saying “this is indeed good news”.
Both Dr Rajesh and Dr Vishwajit, however, sounded caution, saying the focus is now on saving lives of the patients undergoing treatment at these two hospitals. While the death rate at the South Goa district hospital came down to seven till Saturday, there was no death reported at the ESI hospital in the last 24 hours, informed Dr Vishwajit. The duo further said there’s a marked reduction in the number of patients visiting the casualty of the two hospitals.
Statistics dished out by the two hospitals revealed that of the 568-bed at South Goa district hospital, 288 beds were shown online as vacant. Dr Rajesh pointed out that around 265 patients were undergoing treatment in the hospital as on Saturday evening.
At the ESI Hospital on Saturday morning, 127 beds were occupied and 108 beds vacant. The situation further improved in the evening with only 110 patients admitted availability of beds going up to 125. “This is the first time that there are more beds available than the patients”, Dr Vishwajit said.
A further glance at the daily health bulletin showed that the ESI Hospital saw only 17 admissions in the last 24 hours. The total number of patients discharged during the same period was around 20. Around four patients were shifted to other Covid hospitals.
While the ESI hospital had around 110 patients as on Saturday evening, only 67 patients were on oxygen.
At the peak of the second wave early this month, bed availability at these two Covid hospitals was a major issue, leaving patients to knock the doors of private hospitals. In fact, a woman from Betalbatim had breathed her last outside the South Goa District Hospital after gasping for breath for more than five hours as attempts made by her husband to get her admitted to the hospital came a cropper for want of beds.
Start vaccinating Goan
seafarers as done in
Kerala, TN: Congress
MARGAO: Asserting that the government is not in a mood to start early Covid vaccination to seafarers, who may lose their jobs if they don’t get the jab on time, South Goa district Congress Committee president Joe Dias has said the insensitive and irresponsible BJP government has always given step motherly treatment to Goan seafarers.
He said BJP Government's apathy towards Goan Seafarers has come to the fore time and again. “Last year the government deliberately delayed repatriation of the seafarers. The seafarers faced problems on arrival at ports and had to pass through nightmares during isolation period. Most of them were looted with huge bills for testing, quarantine facilities etc”, he said.
Joe pointed out that many seafarers have received calls from their employers to join duty in next two to three months after getting vaccinated.
“Kerala and Tamil Nadu have already started a special drive to vaccinate seafarers from their respective States. Unfortunately, despite repeated requests, Goa government has not responded till date”, he said.
He said Chief Minister Pramod Sawant must remember that these hardworking seafarers are compelled to work abroad due to failure of his government to provide them jobs. Seafarers not only support their families, but bring foreign exchange to Goa which helps in boosting economy of the State. Our hard working brethren must get priority in vaccination, he added.
