08 Jul 2020  |   05:39am IST

Govt procuring more COVID ambulances

Efforts are on to augment infrastructure for COVID-19 testing and treatment; be it in terms of health personnel, services and functioning of COVID Centres across Goa

Team Herald

Pernem: Health Minister Vishwajit Rane stated that the government is in the process of procuring additional COVID ambulances for Goa.

“There is a demand for additional ambulances in the State. Due to insufficient ambulances, it takes time to shift patients at COVID Centres. The government is in the process of procuring additional COVID ambulances for the State through government or CSR under 108,” said Rane. 

Pointing out that outsourcing is required to provide better services and also to reduce the load on administrative officials, Rane added, “There is need to outsource agencies, which can take care of the food, hygiene and other services at the COVID Centres to reduce the load on administrative officers. Right now the administrative staff, is facing a heavy work load of looking after the administrative work as well as monitoring the food and the other things, which are in place at the Centres.” 

“We are receiving letters from agencies, which are giving assurances to monitor and look after the provision of nutritional food, maintain hygiene etc at the COVID Centres,” said Rane. 

He was speaking to the media after a review meeting that was convened in Pernem by the Deputy Chief Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar. The meeting was also attended by Mandrem MLA Dayanand Sopte, DySP Gajanan Prabhudesai, Pernem PI, Dy Collector, Mamlatdar, Health Officials, Pernem fire station-in-charge and other government staff. 

Rane further stated that the team of doctors and health staff will be made and a vehicle will be attached to every Health Centre, which will collect the swab samples in affected areas and directly take it to the testing Centre. 

“The department is looking for doctors from Ayush, Homeopathy, who can join the department under the NHM scheme, which will be included in these teams of doctors. “We are also in process of taking 50 more nurses who will only work in COVID hospitals,” said Rane. 

Meanwhile, Ajgaonkar, who is also the Pernem MLA, appealed to the public to follow all the COVID-19 safety norms strictly.

He also directed the Pernem Police to take strict action against those who violate the norms.