MAPUSA
For a government that is obsessed with the third wave, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday announced that the focus of his government was on essential equipment, medicine and manpower to tackle the third wave in the State, even as it was trying to accomplish 100 per cent vaccination of citizens who are 45 years and above.
He said the required infrastructure and training to medical staff and counsellors would be put in place by June 10.
PREPARATION
“The Covid management for the third wave is being done in consultation with the taskforce and the expert committees. We have taken a series of decisions of setting up required infra, procuring medicines and training manpower to tackle the third wave,” said Sawant, while addressing the media in the presence of Health Minister Vishwajit Rane.
A taskforce committee was set up to tackle the third wave under the chairmanship of Sawant and Rane as vice-chairman, while the expert committee comprises the dean of the GMCH and doctors from the health department and representatives of IMA and IPA.
The government has decided to commission 10 neonatal intensive care units (NICU) in GMCH and increase Paediatric Intensive Care (PIC) units from current six to 14 in GMCH,
“At any time, we are ready to convert 20 per cent of the normal ICU beds into paediatric ICU beds at the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) whenever the need arises. We can also convert existing Covid hospitals into paediatric wards,” the CM said.
The government will also identify standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the Covid management among the children.
“We will draw the SOPs in coordination with the AIIMS,” the CM said.
The CM informed that the government has made arrangements of 550 beds at the super-speciality block of the GMCH.
“At present 394 beds are available, of which 284 beds are full while 110 beds are vacant. We are trying to work out a system so that no patient should remain without a bed in the GMCH. Where ever possible, we will shift the patients,” he said.
He further said that in case the third wave strikes the super-speciality block could be converted into a facility to treat paediatric patients with ICU facilities.
He further said that the government has already made arrangements to purchase the required equipment and medicines.
VACCINATION
The government has decided to give priority to lactating mothers and persons with co-morbid conditions between the age group of 18 to 44.
The CM stated that the expert committee stressed on vaccination and accordingly, the government has put all mechanisms in place to conduct the vaccination drive.
“Top priority will be given to lactating mothers and those who have co-morbid conditions in the age group of 18 to 44. Besides online registration, we will also allow spot registration for the vaccination,” he said.
The government is working towards achieving 100 per cent vaccination in the age group of 45 and above and has arranged “Tika Utsavs” in panchayat and municipality areas from Wednesday.
“We have started the Tika Utsav again. Last time, we conducted it at 168 places. Now, we will add 20 to 25 more places. This Tika Utsav is only for the first dose. The second dose will be administered after completion of 84 days. Our target is to complete 100% vaccination of people of 45 and above within eight days,” said Sawant, stressing that after June 4 the government wants to focus on people in the age group of 18 to 44.
He informed that for the moment, only 6,000 vaccine doses were available for the 18 to 44 age group while additional 36,000 vaccines would arrive in the first week of June.
“We are stressing on how to get more vaccines. Besides the existing doses, we are procuring at least 15 lakh vials from three different companies,” the CM said.
