BICHOLIM
Following a sharp decline in Covid cases, the Step Up Covid care centre has been closed down at the Keshav Sewa Sadhana school for special children in Bicholim.
The Covid Care Centre and Step Up Hospital had been set up at the school on May 7 to provide oxygen beds and primary care to Covid patients, at a time when Covid cases were at its peak.
According to Dr Shekhar Salkar, who was involved in the Covid Care Centre, the facility had a total bed strength of 71 beds, 25 oxygen concentrators and 10 jumbo cylinders.
The government-appointed intensivist Dr Gaurish Palav, Dr Shekhar Salkar and Bicholim Health Officer Dr Medha Salkar, as well as the Bicholim CHC medical officers would take turns visiting the centre twice everyday.
“In addition, 2 Ayush doctors with one staff nurse and one ANM nurse worked at the centre round the clock,”
“We initially had five oxygen jumbo cylinders with regulators which increased to 10. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant initially sanctioned 10 oxygen concentrators which increase to 20 and five more were donated by Siddharth Goyal, MD of Jai Ganesh Ispat and Ferro Alloys Pvt Ltd as CSR activity.
“We thank Speaker and Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar, the Lion’s Club, Rotary Club, Siddhesh Amonkar and Meghshyam Raut, for their help in injections, oxymeters, regulators, PPE kits, eatables for patients from time to time,” said Dr Salkar, while also thanking the medical staff, police and other authorities for their support to the centre.
“We admitted 113 patients from all over Goa, of which 70 were males and 43 were females. We had to refer 18 patients to higher centres, while we treated and discharged 95 patients successfully with oxygen, steroids, blood thinners and antibiotics under the guidance of Dr Gaurish Palav, our chief intensivist. No deaths were reported at the centre.”
“All treatment was totally free of charge. We all worked together to overcome this deadly second wave. It was a hectic but satisfying experience for all who worked and received good response from patients and their relatives,” said Dr Salkar.
