SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2024
PANJIM: Within hours of the Herald report exposing the unhealthy conditions in which staff at the Goa Medical College casualty section are working and handling COVID patients, three staff members of the section tested positive for the virus. Two servants and one barber reported positive, a source told Herald.
Herald, on Wednesday, had exposed that despite directions from the Central and State governments, the first line of defence – the medical team at GMC – is yet to get full protection kits to safeguard themselves from the virus.
Sources in the GMC told Herald that despite several requests the government is yet to provide Personal Protection Equipment (PPEs) to the doctors in various departments at the hospital, where thousands of patients arrive daily for treatment of different ailments.
Wednesday’s development has sent the GMC staff, not only of the casualty section, but of the entire hospital, into a tizzy. Sources revealed that other staff members at the GMC casualty have refused to work without PPEs.
When contacted GMC Dean Dr Shivanand Bandekar said he was not aware of the development and will revert. “I am in meeting right now, will revert after inquiring,” he said.
