Increasing trend of COVID-19 cases
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant has stated that Covid-19 positive cases have increased in the state since Ganesh Chaturthi festival. As a matter of fact, it is the people themselves that are responsible for the same. The basic norms such as compulsory wearing of masks, social distancing are being over-looked. Many people wear a mask only for the name’s sake and fail to cover the mouth and nose. Some remove the mask during conversation. Such a tendency turns dangerous to one and all.
During the immersion ceremony of 1 ½ day Ganesh idols at Durbhat village in Ponda, residents were seen overcrowding adjacent to the main road opposite Sharda High School. In villages it is the local village panchayat that has to shoulder the responsibility of explaining the necessary norms to the local population. However some of the panchayats fail to accept the responsibility. Even at the municipal market and some of the shops in the vicinity of old bus-stand in Ponda, we notice people staying very close to each other while buying items. It is absolutely necessary that each one of us abide to the concerned norms quite seriously so that positive cases of Covid-19 are reduced to the minimum. Let us all pledge to take necessary precautions so that the ongoing pandemic is properly controlled. Use of sanitiser and handwash would go a long way in keeping us safe from the deadly virus.
Pravin U Sardessai, Adpai
Words come too easily
Unless one is admitted to the Covid Hospital, no one knows what goes on. We know that the deaths in Singapore and New Zealand, with 55L populations is less than 30 each. Now, we see from the letter in Upfront- Herald- 30/8, by M D Phal, whose close relative passed away in the ESI Covid hospital, that handling of patients is abysmal. The writer himself says deaths can be reduced. Imagine, diabetes patients with Covid-19 being given high cholesterol foods!
The Health Minister says today that he is ordering HFNO! Goa is the last to be affected by Covid-19. We had every other countries’ methods- including WHO- on how to prepare and tackle for the pandemic. If oxygen is not available in Goa get it from out. Not anyone can be a Supply Chain expert: call on experts.
We failed miserably and lost lives unnecessarily. We have a panel of doctors to oversee operations. They are not addressing the key problem. How many deaths since they formed the panel? This is not justifiable by any stretch of the imagination.
Countries at war, when in need of soldiers, draft all 18-year olds. Covid-19 is a war, we are facing acute shortage of frontline soldiers. Private Doctors need to attend Covid Hospitals. Some Covid positive patients in home isolation have reported no doctors calling them: others reported some called for only four days. The right people are not pulling their weight. If you phone your family doctor, he will reply, you are not audible call later. All are afraid they may have a probable Covid case. They do not even seem to know what to do.
R Fernandes, Margao
Playing politics with the nation’s future
Citing Covid as a reason various political outfits had demanded postponement of the NEET and JEE exams conveniently disregarding the fact that these tests are crucial to the future of millions of students and by extension the nation.
Necessary measures have been taken by the authorities to enable even probable asymptomatic cases to appear for the exams. Postponing the exams could be misused as a precedent to dilute the entire admission process which may be deteriorative to the quality of undergraduate education in times to come. Taking cognisance of the fact that students prepare two years in advance for these exams to such prestigious seats of learning it is imperative that exams be conducted as scheduled.
The fact that 17 lakh out of 25 lakh students have already downloaded their admit cards lends credence to the fact that students are keen to secure a bright future for themselves, Covid or no Covid.
It is disheartening to note that petty politics with complete disregard to the aspirations of students is being played by ill informed, mostly uneducated and angoothachhaap mass ‘leaders’. Even for the sake of argument let’s ask as to how long should the exams be postponed? 3 months? 4 months? 6 months? Nobody has the foggiest notion as to how Covid would pan out over the course of the next one year, so postponement would lead to a zero academic year and the probability of having two first year batches in 2021. Do the technical and medical colleges have the wherewithal, infrastructure and faculty to handle such a situation? The answer is a resounding no.
Thankfully wiser counsel prevailed and the government took a good decision to conduct the exams as scheduled without buckling to this tower of Babel erected by inconsequential netas and others of their ilk.
Vinay Dwivedi,
Benaulim
September: The butterfly month
Amid the gloom of the COVID-19 pandemic which the country is going through, Indians can look forward to some solace and diversion in the month of September. A first-of its-kind event, to underscore the importance of butterflies in our ecology, will be held in India along with a series of events as part of the ‘Butterfly Month’ in September.
It is understood that the national event will have activities like butterfly count, photography and workshop, including competitions and quizzes throughout the month at the national and regional level. Participants can reportedly send submissions by logging into butterflies of India website or downloading India Biodiversity portal group and becoming a member of the butterfly month project.
Butterflies play an important role in the ecosystem and also help in pollination. Multi-coloured butterflies also add to the beauty of the surrounding and are also an indicator of the health of the ecosystem. Hence studying butterflies is important to understand the environment. For many this month-long activity will come as a God-sent solace from the fear of contracting the coronavirus. Butterfly enthusiasts in Goa and even those without any experience can look forward to the month of September by spending more time with nature.
Adelmo Fernandes,
Vasco
Please listen… a life could depend on it
Victor Frankl, an eminent Austrian psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor once had a depressed patient ringing him late at night to tell him that she was about to commit suicide.
Frankl spoke to her until dawn ,giving her rationale after rationale to embrace life anew. After a whole lot of persuasion she assured him that she won’t take her life. Later when Viktor met his patient and asked her which of the reasons expounded by him made her reverse her decision she simply said “None of them.”
The non-plussed doctor pressed her further and was then told that his willingness to listen for long without passing judgement was what made her change her mind and understand that it was still worthwhile to live. Sometimes the greatest act of kindness towards a fellow human being would be to lend an ear and empathize with his condition, it could save a precious life from being snuffed out.
Rekha Sarin Trehan,
Benaulim
