SANGUEM
Residents from Kurdi-Wadem in Sanguem taluka have appealed to authorities to set up a Covid care centre in the village, given the difficulties faced by Covid positive people and their near and dear ones in the remote village.
A villager, Chandan Unandkar, said Covid patients and their relatives have to travel a great distance to reach the Covid centre at Margao.
“Travelling all the way to Margao is difficult and stressful for the Covid patients and their families. Their problems would only be worse once the 15-day curfew comes into force. A Covid care centre in the village is a vital requirement which should be set up urgently,” he said.
When contacted, Kurdi-Wadem Sarpanch Kushta Gaonkar said the number of Covid cases is increasing all over the State and Kurdi-Wadem is no exception.
“Kurdi-Wadem village has three residential colonies all occupied by villagers displaced from the old Selaulim village, which is now the Selaulim Dam.”
“When these villagers were displaced to Wadem village, the government had constructed a building to house a health centre in the village. Thirty years on, the building has remained unused and it can well be used as a Covid care centre in the village,” said Gaonkar.
Claiming that the building has electricity and water connection, the sarpanch said only minor renovation work of the building is needed.
“This renovation work can be completed in around 10 days and it can be converted into a Covid care centre,” he added.
Gaonkar also pointed out that the Covid care centre would be beneficial to Covid patients as most households in remote areas have only one common toilet facility.
“This would make home isolation difficult for other family members if one member tests positive,” said Gaonkar.
