PANAJI
Taking a dig at AAP’s public initiative ‘Goans against Corona’, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Friday said, “After the storm is over, somebody comes to you and tell you we will help you. They tell us that each Goan’s life is very precious. That we knew from the very beginning. We are not going to let any Goan lose his life. We do not need to be taught and educated by people, especially coming from states which have messed up till the Home Minister intervened and organised beds in stadiums among other things.”
Quick to counter Health Minister Vishwajit Rane’s attack on Aam Aadmi Party’s Goans against Corona campaign, AAP spokesperson and in-charge of the campaign Rahul Mhambre snapped back at Rane saying “the storm is not yet over”.
Calling upon Rane to leave aside politics and work with everyone in this battle against coronavirus, AAP termed his attitude as arrogant and lacking empathy.
“It is shocking to hear the Health Minister say that the ‘storm is over’. He should understand that the storm is not over; it’s just beginning right now. He himself said that community transmission has begun. Is that what happens when the storm is over? Is the storm over when patients are unable to find a bed anywhere in Goa? Is the storm over when Covid patients are lying on the floor of GMC?” Mhambre questioned.
Meanwhile, AAP has staked a claim to being the trigger for Goa government’s decision to distribute “home isolation kit” to Covid patients.
----------------------------------
CM joins the wrangle,
AAP dismisses him,
votes for Delhi model
PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant joined the wrangle on Friday evening and accused AAP of putting up a smokescreen to make themselves appear as saviours of Goa during the Covid pandemic. “In Delhi, the Government of India had to intervene to control Covid. It was only after the 1000-bedded Sardar Patel Centre was set up that the scene came under control. There is no need of any other model here. Goa model is ideal,” CM Sawant argued.
Responding to this, AAP sought to highlight that the Delhi model is not a model of taking credit. “It’s a model is ensuring that the biggest Delhi hospitals are treating more than 80 per cent of patients from outside Delhi. It’s a model of giving every corona patient the same treatment that a minister gets. It’s not a model where ministers get doctors from AIIMS and the common man is blamed for increasing deaths. It’s a model that Goa needs now,” reads the statement issued by AAP.
----------------------
Storm' over? Vishwajit claims
daily spike may touch 1,000
PANAJI: In view of the projection that Goa may record as many as 1,000 new Covid-19 cases per day due to community transmission, the state government has issued its nod to the plan of distributing a free “Home isolation kit” to Covid patients under home isolation. The distribution is likely to begin within seven to eight days.
Speaking to the media, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane stated, “We are expecting the number of home isolation cases to rise. The daily spike may go as high as 1,000 cases, we don’t know. This is happening due to community transmission. Goa could touch 25,000 to 30,000 confirmed cases by September end. This is a projection from the central authorities as well.”
In accordance with these figures, the government is looking to begin distribution of the “Home isolation kit” containing crucial medical devices to each household free of charge within a week’s time. This is expected to reduce the mortality rate by ensuring timely medical care.
Rane informed that the pouch will include a digital thermometer, a pulse oximeter with OLED display including batteries, one N 95 mask, three triple layered masks, disposable gloves, premium spirometer for breathing exercises, a respirometer for lung exercises, a sanitizer and protection wipes. Vitamin C supplements, Vitamin D supplements zinc tablets and hydrochloroquine tablets will also be included.
Speaking to the media after a comprehensive meeting with top officials of the Health Department, Rane said, “CM has given his approval to our plan of distributing ‘home isolation pack’ free of charge to all patients who are under home isolation. We are expecting the number of home isolation cases to rise. We don’t want them to procure everything. My concern is the people in the villages of Goa, not in the urban areas.”
Concerned Health Officers will guide Covid patients in using these devices once the pouch is distributed at PHC level.
The Health Department is also aiming to activate several additional facilities including the new South Goa District Hospital (SGDH) in the coming days.
With the occupancy in all designated Covid wards at Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim being exhausted, the authorities have decided begin utilising the ophthalmology ward for Covid patients by the next week.
“Covid Hospital in Margao is fully occupied due to sudden rise in the number of cases. It is true that patients were made to sleep on sheets spread out on the floor. Manipal Hospital, Apollo Victor Hospital, SMRC Hospital are also all full. Hence, additional facilities are about to be activated,” Rane stated.
We will start with 250 beds. But we have capacity of going up to 566 beds as we have those many oxygen vents connected to beds.
Accordingly, an inspection of the facility at SGDH has been scheduled on Saturday. Health Department has put together a team of 10 medical officers from Directorate of Health Services and one a chest physician cum health officer to be deployed at SGDH. Dr Rajesh Patil and Dr Sunanda Amonkar will be the nodal officers while Dr Deepa Correia will head both Hospicio and new SGDH as the Medical Superintendent. In addition to this, the department is in the process of recruiting 70 employees from private agencies to man the SGDH along with nurses from Goa Dental College. Additionally, two 108 ambulances are also expected to be stationed at the hospital.
With the intention of digitizing all patients’ records immediately, Goa Electronics Ltd has been asked to deploy three persons at each Covid Hospital, Rane disclosed.
