PANAJI
Goa Medical College and Hospital on an average handles 15 cases of major accidents every day, with the Orthopaedic Department itself handling 8 to 10 patients.
Disclosing this to Prudent Media, Associate Professor, Orthopaedic Department Dr Zelio D’Mello admitted that there is an alarming rise in the number of road accidents in Goa.
“As the number of vehicles -- two-wheelers and four-wheelers -- has increased in Goa, the number of accidents too has increased simultaneously. If one looks at the statistics of the past 30 years, the rise in number of accidents is phenomenal now”, he said.
The doctor disclosed that besides the 15 cases on an average in GMC, there are cases also being handled at Asilo Hospital and South Goa District Hospital.
Dr Zelio lamented that people do not follow rules and that drunken driving was a major cause of accidents. “Drunken driving cases can be very serious. There are bone breakages which could lead to one being permanently disabled”, he said.
108 AMBULANCE SERVICE
Dr Zelio points that things improved a lot ever since 108 Ambulance Service started. The ambulance goes to the site, picks up the victim and he/she gets treatment within minutes.
“We should be thankful to the current health minister who took the initiative to start this service. It is best service that the Goa government has initiated for the people,” he said.
24-HOUR SERVICE
Round the clock service is available to all accident victims that enter the casualty.
“All departments are ready, the doctors are available and they attend to the patient immediately, access the injuries and start treatment”, he said adding priority is given to patients with head injuries and if need be immediate operations are conducted.
BANASTARIM CASE
Pointing to this particular case, Dr Zelio says a woman who was injured in this accident had sustained major fractures.
“She had four major fractures on her hands and legs. We operated on all four, but later she developed complications and had to be shifted to the ICU”, he said.
She will need at least a year to fully recover and resume to her normal duties, but till then the family members will have to undergo the trauma, Dr Zelio said.
