The 108 ambulance which has been out of order in Netravali.
SANGUEM
The lone 108 ambulance service in Netravali village of Sanguem taluka has been out of order since the last eight months and this has put villagers into great hardship for timely medical assistance.
According to Netravali Deputy Sarpanch Abhijit Dessai, while the ambulance driver is available in the village at all times, the driver claims inability to drive patients to a nearby hospital as the ambulance is in need of repairs.
“It has been a nightmare for villagers due to the non-availability of the ambulance service in the village. Two women from the village lost their lives in the last five days after failing to get medical treatment on time,” said Dessai.
“One woman from Nunem is reported to have lost her life while being shifted from the village in a private car to Sanguem PHC. She was then taken to Hospicio Hospital at Margao, where she died along the way.”
“Another succumbed to brain stroke while being taken to Sanguem PHC in a private car without any first aid treatment,” informed Dessai.
He said the 108 ambulance in the village was of great service and assistance to villagers of Netravali which is about 30 kms from the Sanguem PHC, as the patient would get some First Aid treatment before reaching the PHC.
“However in the recent times, the situation has become precarious and villagers face severe difficulties is shifting patients to the PHC in the absence of 108 ambulance service,” informed Dessai.
“As of now calls for the 108 ambulance from Netravali village are attended by the Curchorem emergency service, located over 50 kms from the village. In most of the cases, the patient is shifted to the nearby health centre by private vehicles before the arrival of the ambulance service,” informed Dessai.
