The Cuncolim commercial complex which was proposed to be brought into use as Covid care centre.
MARGAO
Covid care centres mooted in the Municipal areas of Margao and Cuncolim under the initiative of local MLAs and various groups and organisations are still awaiting sanction for doctors and para-medics to run the centre.
That’s not all. Permissions for running these Covid care centre are still to come from the district authorities.
Nuvem MLA Wilfred D’Sa has also mulled opening a Covid care centre in his constituency and has sought permission from the authorities for setting up a centre at Majorda.
While the MLAs of Margao Digambar Kamat and Fatorda Vijai Sardesai along with Margao Municipal Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes have proposed setting up to two 25-bedded Covid care centers in Margao and Fatorda, Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias has proposed a 24-bedded Covid care centre in Cuncolim.
The two municipal towns have witnessed a continuous spike in Covid cases, besides a number of deaths in the second wave of the dreaded virus.
While the Margao Covid care centre has been proposed to be set up at the Manohar Parrikar Indoor Stadium, the Fatorda stadium has been zeroed in as Covid care centre for Fatorda area. Similarly, the Cuncolim MLA along with Balli Primary Health Officer Dr Mamata Kakodkar had approved the newly-inaugurated Cuncolim Commercial complex as the site for the proposed Covid centre.
Both at Margao and Cuncolim, arrangements are being put in place to procure beds and other medical equipments to get the Covid care centres moving.
If sources are to be believed, around five oxygen concentrators, which can take care of the oxygen requirements of 25 patients have been promised for Margao Covid care centre.
Shortage of medical personnel including doctors and para-medics has cast doubts on the commissioning of these Covid care centres.
Sources in the know informed that since the medical manpower has been totally stretched out, the health services have come under a focus onj how the department will meet the manpower requirements of these care centres.
Says Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias: “We want to involve local doctors to guide how to go about with the Covid care centres. I have asked the health department to draft at least two doctors to take charge of the Covid care centre. No sooner, the doctors and nurses are sanctioned, the Cuncolim centre will start taking asymptomatic patients”.
That there are no signs of any government doctor being drafted yet for the Covid care centre, Margao Municipal Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes has knocked the doors of the Indian Medical Association, seeking its expertise in running the Covid care centre. “These care centres are meant for patients with mild symptoms so that critical patients of Margao and Fatorda have better access to Covid hospital, while giving hospitals such as Goa Medicla College & Hospital (GMC) at Bambolim, South Goa district hospital and ESI hospital more room for treating and saving lives of Covid patients”, Agnelo said in his letter, exuding confidence that the two care centres can start operations if the MMC receive help and assistance from private doctors.
