20 Jun 2021  |   05:22am IST

Health professionals heal the sick

Goa witnessed a shocking situation in the last few months due to the surge in COVID-19 infected cases. Several families lost their loved ones battling with the dreaded disease. MARCOS GONSALVES feels the State health sector also was exposed whilst tackling the second wave of the pandemic with shortage of oxygen and beds creating havoc in the government hospitals. However, one cannot ignore or sideline the timely followed protocols of COVID-19 treatment by the medical fraternity, which has saved thousands of lives
Health professionals heal the sick

This month Goa has witnessed fewer Covid-19 related deaths, thanks to the lockdown and the curfew imposed by the government. In mid-May, every second person tested was found positive for the deadly infection. The good Samaritans and different NGOs must be lauded for their tireless efforts and for risking their lives and helping the government agencies to supply meals/medicines/oxygen to the patients, both in State and private hospitals. The medical fraternity specially the doctors and nurses put their lives at risk working extra hours and often sacrificing their family life to see that the Covid-19 patients got timely treatment and returned home in good health.

In South Goa District Hospital (SGDH) and ESI Hospital, Margao, both the State-run hospitals the timely and proper protocols of COVID treatment gave new life to nearly 6288 persons, as of June 11. The recovery rate of COVID positive patients in these hospitals was nearly 85 to 90 per cent. The facilities and infrastructure in both these hospitals too helped doctors to give proper treatment to patients, without any delay.

Herald, after communicating with the in-charge of both the government hospitals, found out that besides following COVID treatment protocols, the dedication of the medical fraternity produced positive results.

As of June 11, the ESI hospital had treated nearly 1400 positive cases in this second wave of Coronavirus and had a 93 per cent recovery rate. This hospital reported just 21 COVID deaths, which is less than 1.3 per cent. Nearly all deaths were due to late admission or the patients were already dead when they were brought to the hospitals.

Speaking to Herald, ESI medical superintendent Dr Vishwajeet Phaldesai said believe in isolating the patients quarantined at home.

“We wanted patients to come early, get admitted early. This time more critical days were 7th and 9th day. Those were the days where patients had to be admitted in the hospitals. Many people who were not in the hospital these days have lost life,” Dr Phaldesai stated.

The ESI medical superintendent said that first it was the original virus and this time it was a mutated virus. “We make sure that patients are admitted early since we did not give an earlier steroid. The patient is covered with good antibiotics. We took care of Anti-coagulants to avoid formation of blood clot. Besides, all supported treatment is given including vitamin C, D, calcium and required dialysis is done on the patients on time”, he informed.

Dr Phaldesai further said they focussed on timely physiotherapy for the COVID patients which included breathing exercises. Such exercise is very important right from COVID state to the post-COVID stage, he said. 

As informed by Dr Phaldesai, the ESI Hospital had around 40 COVID patients. Besides this, 215 dialysis sections were done on COVID patients. Also patients from Valpoi came and took dialysis at the ESI in Margao, the doctor said.

“We never had any oxygen problem in ESI hospital. We have a good team that works day and night, including my anaesthetic Dr Glendwin and two technicians. We had good repo with the driver of the vehicles, managers of the oxygen plants, and Deputy Collector Jyoti Kumari, and South Goa Collector Ruchika Katyal. There was not a shortage of oxygen throughout the second wave of COVID infection”, he stated. 

Now the PHE plant has been put in place at the ESI hospital with the 1000 litre per LPM. A trial run is has been carried out and will be put it in use in the next few days. This will be done under DRDO and it will take away the cylinder trollies, the ESI  medical superintendent said.

“On the medication side, we manage mild and moderate patients. We did not attend to serious patients due to the non-availability of ICU. This time we had the services of Dr Edwin Gomes, who was with us at the time of the first wave of COVID infection. Dr Edwin Gomes is still with us and helping us a lot to manage the COVID patients”, he informed. 

According to the ESI medical superintendent, all the teams worked day and night including doctors, medical staff, nurses and technicians. “We got guidance from Dr Edwin at every stage. Out of 235, Dr Edwin was managing the maximum. There were doctors namely Dr V Gude, Dr Rahul Prabhudesai, Dr Uday Kakodkar, Dr Manoj Prabhudesai and Dr Vitu Naik, a consultant  from ESI,” he added.

Dr Phadelsai said, “We manage it well and we are also prepared for the next wave. Treatment protocols for the third wave could be different and we cannot use the same treatment for the children. Only supportive treatment will be given to the children. However, in serious cases, a high dose will be given.” 

IDhar UDHAR

Idhar Udhar