Locals protesting outside the Sanguem Health Centre on Wednesday morning.
THE GOAN NETWORK
SANGUEM
The agitation by residents of Sanguem demanding round-the-clock availability of the 108 ambulance service at the Sanguem Primary Health Centre (PHC) following the sudden death of 22-year-old Shivani Boyanavar of Bendwada ended on a positive note on Wednesday, after a cardiac care ambulance was provided at the health centre.
Angry residents gathered at the PHC and questioned Health Officer Dr Tulsi Mamata Kakodkar over the alleged lapses in the availability of emergency ambulance services.
They demanded uninterrupted 108 ambulance service to prevent similar incidents in the future and warned that they would not leave the premises until the administration gave a firm assurance.
Dr Kakodkar informed the protesters that she would convey their demands to the higher authorities before leaving to attend the Sarkar Tumchya Dari programme at Rivona.
The protesters, however, continued their sit-in outside the health centre and threatened to block the road if the administration failed to provide a concrete assurance within the stipulated time.
Tensions escalated when a verbal altercation reportedly took place between former councillor Meshu D’Costa and the police. Additional police personnel, including officers from Curchorem, were summoned as a precautionary measure.
Assistant Mamlatdar Nikhil Naik and Police Inspector Ditendra Naik contacted senior officials to bring the situation under control, as the Sub-Divisional Officer, Mamlatdar and Health Officer were attending the public outreach programme at Rivona.
Meanwhile, Meshu D’Costa brought the matter to the attention of Goa Forward Party President and Fatorda MLA Vijay Sardesai, who assured to speak to the chief minister to find a solution. Sardesai subsequently contacted Health Department Joint Secretary Pranab Bhat through a conference call.
Bhat assured the protesters that a permanent 108 ambulance would be stationed at the Sanguem Health Centre by Monday, failing which a new vehicle would be provided.
Trusting the assurance, the protesters agreed to temporarily withdraw their agitation. They, however, warned that a larger protest would be launched if the ambulance was not made available by Monday.
However on Wednesday itself, a 108 ambulance equipped with cardiac-care facilities arrived at the Sanguem Health Centre at around 4 pm.
Curchorem Police Inspectors Melvin Colaco and Sachin Panalkar were among the police personnel deployed to maintain law and order.
Meanwhile, the body of Shivani Boyanavar was handed over to the family at around 1.30 pm, after an autopsy at the District Hospital in Margao. The last rites were performed at the Sanguem crematorium at approximately 2.30 pm.
According to the post-mortem report, Boyanavar suffered a severe cardiac attack following the failure of certain organs in her body. Her untimely death left residents grief-stricken, with several expressing the view that timely medical intervention might have saved her life.
Residents also demanded that two ambulances be stationed at the Sanguem Health Centre to ensure uninterrupted emergency services.
