THE GOAN NETWORK
QUEPEM: The day-long power outage in most parts of South Goa crippled services at the Quepem Primary Health Centre (PHC) on Saturday.
Most facilities dependent on power supply were unavailable to patients at the Quepem PHC in the absence of a power generator.
Only the OPD was seen functional as usual with patients waiting in long queues and only one doctor attending to the OPD and attending to emergencies in the Casualty.
Although there is inverter installed at the PHC, there was only one ceiling fan running in the Casualty and 1 each in the male and female wards, where there were 4 male and 1 female patients admitted at the time.
Doors at most rooms of the health services were seen shut, with no doctor or attendant inside the room.
Selvy Miranda, a social worker who stays within the precincts of the hospital, was seen with his vehicle at the hospital to assist in any emergencies.
“No arrangements were made at the PHC although authorities were aware of the day-long power shutdown,” remarked Miranda.
“According to my information, no request for an emergency power generator was even sent to the government.”
“The Rogi Kalyan Samiti, which was to look into the smooth running of the hospital, had made no mention of the emergency power generator in any of their meetings. This raises a doubt if they are really interested the “Kalyan of the Rogi” in the hospital or those visiting the hospital,” Miranda added.
Efforts were then made to contact the PHC Health Officer Dr Lorna Fernandes who could shed some light on these issues.
There were also concerns among staff about the medical officers in the PHC, as one medical officer would be proceeding on leave from Monday.
Till noon, Dr Fernandes had not reported in the hospital nor was any staff in a position to give information if and when she would visit the hospital.
