First Mapusa, now Chicalim Hospital without a dengue test kit

TAKING NO CHANCES
>> Chicalim Hospital begins immediate treatment of patients even if they are suspected cases of dengue
>> Blood samples of a suspected dengue case are sent to Hospicio at Margao for analysis and results take around 4-5 days
>> The Vasco Urban Health Centre is then informed about the residential area of the patient fornecessary precautionary measures
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VASCO: At a time when one child lost his life and at least 30 persons had tested positive for dengue in one vicinity of Chicalim alone, the Chicalim Cottage Hospital (CCH) should have had adequate facilities to test patients before treating them.
On the contrary, the main government hospital in Mormugao taluka does not have dengue test kits and patients are either forced to visit private hospitals or travel to Hospicio at Margao or GMC hospital for dengue tests.
Those who do visit the CCH with suspected dengue symptoms are given medicines, while their blood samples are sent for analysis at Hospicio in Margao.
When contacted, CCH Health Officer Dr Rajendra Borkar told The Goan on Friday evening admitted that the CCH did not have necessary kits for dengue tests.
“We have already written to our higher ups requesting to be provided with some dengue test kits.”
“In any case, the CCH begins immediate treatment of patients even if they are suspected cases of dengue. Blood samples of a suspected dengue case are sent to Hospicio at Margao for analysis and results take around 4-5 days,” informed Dr Borkar.
“The Vasco Urban Health Centre is then informed about the residential area of the patient, so that necessary precautionary measures are taken and patients can be treated immediately,” he added.
Dr Borkar said they have been instructed to collect blood samples and send them to Hospicio at Margao, because Hospicio is the only government hospital in South Goa to conduct dengue tests.
“The confirmation of dengue is only for academic purpose, otherwise we take all precautionary measures and always treat even a suspected dengue case as if it was a confirmed dengue.”
“The treatment for suspected dengue and actual dengue remains the same. We require confirmation so that we are aware of the need to take precautionary measures. Even if the blood sample tests negative for dengue, it does not make difference.”
“As such, dengue does not have a separate treatment. It is only a conservative treatment. If it's a confirmed dengue case, we immediately inform the Vasco Urban Health Centre, who then takes preventive measures," said Dr Borkar.
He explained that medical stocks at the CCH are procured by the Medical Stores Depot (MSD) at Panaji.
“We have to write to the MSD for any requirement of stores or kits, as and when required. We have already written to the MSD to supply us with some dengue test kits,” said Dr Borkar.
Incidentally, the Goa Shipyard Limited had supplied 100 dengue test kits to the CCH in August 2017, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and following a request of Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida.
While appreciating the GSL for its gesture last year, Almeida had also appealed to other companies to take similar initiatives under their CSR initiatives.