ASHWINI KAMAT
PANAJI
Goa’s private medical sector has readied itself to share the load in the unfortunate event of sudden rise in suspected or confirmed cases in Goa.
Over the last one and half month, the Indian Medical Association Goa State Branch has taken a proactive approach in spreading awareness about the preventive care measures among its 1,400-odd members and over 6,000 students across the State through various sensitization programmes. Workshops have also been conducted to sensitize government officials and anganwadi workers, who come in contact with a large number of people every single day.
Speaking to The Goan, IMA-Goa president Dr Suyog Samuel Arawattigi stated, “Through our seven branches, we have been hosting Continuing Medical Education (CME) conferences to sensitize the 1,400 member doctors in Goa. Doctors can reduce panic among the patients. Our members have also conducted various awareness creation workshops in 35 schools in Goa thereby stressing on the importance of preventive care among over 6,000 students.”
He informed that the State machinery has been monitoring and guiding the private medical sector very closely and efficiently. “We have been told that if the number of cases, suspected or confirmed, shoots up in the State, private sector should step in and offer isolation wards to reduce the load on Goa Medical College and Hospital. This is the worst case scenario and we are prepared to shoulder this responsibility,” Dr Samuel said adding that at present, the private sector is strictly following World Health Organization guidelines and Union Health Ministry advisories while treating patients.
While Goa has yet to register even a single confirmed case of the Coronavirus disease, private hospitals have asked their medical and paramedical staff to adhere strictly to the updated internal protocols that are circulated regularly since the outbreak worldwide.
At Manipal Hospital, Dona Paula, patients who have travelled to China or South East Asian countries in the previous 28 days or have been in direct contact with a person who has and those with symptoms including wheezing, coughing, sore throat, diarrhoea, difficulty in breathing or fever are now being requested to enter through a separate Mobile Screening Unit.
Senior oncology consultant Dr Shekhar Salkar said that all members of Manipal Hospital staff have been asked to protect themselves by wearing face masks and through repeated hand sanitisation. “We have put up a board at the entrance requesting patients for self-declaration of travel history and specific symptoms. A separate OPD has been assigned to handle such cases. A designated ambulance has been kept ready to transport suspected cases following which the ambulance is to be quarantined,” he said. While Manipal Hospital has always had hand sanitisers placed outside every room and in OPD, the screening process has been made strict amidst the growing concerns about the spread of the disease.
It was learnt that the State government has asked Manipal Hospital to create an isolation ward and that the hospital administration has sought some time to provide the same.
Dr Neeraj Borkar of the Borkar Nursing Home, Margao highlighted the tremendous importance of maintaining hand hygiene by using ethanol sanitizers or frequent hand rinsing.
“The hospital administration will inform GMC if we encounter a suspected case. But for now, our physicians take the call during screening of primary complaints by relying on checking the travel history of these patients,” Dr Borkar stated.
He stressed on the need to avoid panic and rumour-mongering and said, “Avoid public gatherings and unnecessary travel, especially to the affected areas, consciously wash hands regularly and don’t touch any surfaces in public,” Dr Borkar advised while pointing out that the fatality rate of COVID-19 is presently 2 per cent as against SARS which had a fatality rate of 10 per cent.
