MARGAO
Even as the State is struggling to stop the onslaught of the second Covid wave, the third wave, likely to hit in September, has become a subject of debate amongst healthcare workers and administrators.
However, after being virtually caught napping when the second wave hit claiming many lives, the healthcare workers seem to be on the job of putting in place and tone up the paediatric infrastructure and logistics to face the third wave, which is likely to hit children.
The South Goa district hospital, a notified Covid hospital, which has been designed to meet the latest in medical requirement, is equipped with a sick neo-natal care unit.
With fears being raised that the third wave will affect children, the district hospital authorities have decided to open the unit so that it is equipped with all the requirements by mid-July.
That’s not all. The district hospital has drawn up plans to put in place a 60-bedded dedicated paediatric Covid ward. Presently, the second floor is playing host to adult Covid patients, but the place is planned to be utilized for the paediatric ward once the current cases and admissions decline.
The district health authorities are working on a plan to ensure the availability of around 500 beds in South Goa to take care of children in the third wave as and when it hits the state.
Member on the government-appointed task force and senior paediatrician Dr Ira Almeida, who was responsible for putting the Covid infrastructure in place in Margao in 2020 when the first wave hit, said the administration has planned a full-fledged 60-bedded paediatric ward in the South district hospital to meet any eventuality during the third wave.
“We are all on the job to put the 60-bedded paediatric Covid ward in place at the district hospital. The list of items, ranging from beds to consumables to medicines, have been shortlisted and will be procured on priority so that we are ready,” she said.
Dr Almeida pointed out that the paediatric ward will also have a six-bedded paediatric ICU at the South district hospital.
The population in the age group of 1 to 18 is being pegged at around four lakh as per the 2011 census. It is expected to touch close to five lakhs if one makes a 15 per cent addition to the figure.
“We have to gear up to put the infrastructure in place taking into account the population of children and the infection rate amongst this section. We are planning to have 500 beds in the South to meet the requirements,” she added.
District hospital nodal officer, Dr Rajesh Patil, said while the hospital healthcare workers are all preoccupied at the moment, the hospital administrators are working on a plan to put the paediatric infrastructure and logistics in place.
“Fortunately, the district hospital has some latest facilities, including a sick neo-natal care unit, with more than 10 cradles. We will soon open the unit and equip it with the necessary medical equipment,” Dr Patil said.
Presently, the South Goa district hospital refers all paediatric Covid cases to the Goa Medical College and hospital given the specialized treatment available at the premiere government-run hospital.
The health administrations are on the job to equip the South district hospital with a paediatric ward, paediatric ICU and sick neo-natal care unit by July-end.
