Owning responsibility
After a hectic all-round belabouring of the Govt. and the GMC doctors, and their advisors, they have now formed a task force to prepare for the 3rd wave. One thing they must all remember: they may be elected representatives but do not hold the right to life of the voters. The doctors erred to the point of committing manslaughter by keeping quiet on the deaths due to oxygen shortages.
Merely saying vaccination is the first objective to the Covid fight is not enough. If the vaccines are not effective against the mutant virus, then what use is this mammoth vax drive? It is their job to decide now, which vaccine to dish out.
And Goa Inc.? Don’t try to show a human side by rooting for retailers and distributors. Remember, they along with Goa. Inc. opposed even the curfew. Why, these traders did not even want to mark social distancing spaces for their customers! They cared nothing for them. It is just money.
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) as modified the National Building Code-2016, to take care of WHO guidelines on ventilation. Goa Inc. must start doing these changes and not just shout to open up. All restaurants and clubs, theatres etc. must change the ventilation as the new mutant virus is air borne. The Govt. must ensure compliance through the Factory Inspector and other agencies before opening up. What is surprising is that all the advice they give is for others not for themselves! They did nothing to shore up oxygen supplies not even asking their members to send back all oxygen cylinders used for welding! At least ‘copy’ what Singapore and South Korea are doing. They do nothing to protect customers either waiting in line or eating at restaurants.
Only those who can own responsibility must lead or advise!
R Fernandes, Margao
Is excessive use of oxygen harmful?
Without doubt it will be universally agreed that the air that we breathe besides oxygen contains about 78 per cent of nitrogen and now a days due to the use of fossil fuels such as coal and petrol, diesel and aviation turbine fuel varying degrees of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides which are a direct consequence of the amount of pollution in any particular area. Could scientists and the medical fraternity from their experience on the use of medical oxygen which contains 90 percent of oxygen shed more light on the harmful effects of administering on medical oxygen that could harm the respiratory system?
It is known that oxygen poisoning occurs as a consequence of excessive oxygen and although medical oxygen is regulated when administering, would it safe in all cases.
Oxygen intake is converted into oxy haemoglobin in the lungs which then transports it to all the extremities of the body. It is known that nitrogen which is present to the extent of 78 per cent is an inert gas and could it be that medical oxygen which contains only 5 per cent of nitrogen be harmful? It would be prudent to eliminate the use of excessive oxygen if it could be harmful.
Elvidio Miranda, Panjim
Forecasts of 3rd wave of pandemic
Every day we read or hear from doctors, politicians, arm-chair critics and so-called ‘specialists’ that India should be ready for the third wave of pandemic! Did these people successfully predict in terms of beginning and ending of the ongoing second wave and the States that would be affected? If so, why were we not prepared and are now bearing the terrible brunt? Several doctors and politicians who are proponents of the 3rd wave theory mention that they are ready and equipped to face the pandemic! This false bravado is a paradoxical challenge and a poor joke especially when we are already at our tethers end in the second wave with shortage of medical personnel, oxygen, medicines, vaccines etc.
It would be better if these ‘experts’ and ‘advisors’ pray that we do not have the third wave. They should boost the shaken confidence of the people instead of making frightening and demoralising statements. In oceanography and for those well-conversant with the moods of the seas the 7th wave that hits the shore is considered to be the biggest and most dangerous. At the rate the doomsday predicators dish out their warnings let us hope that they do not declare the world to soon witness the 7th wave of pandemic and wipe off the human race!
If this happens then the Almighty, who created living beings on the 6th day and rested on the 7th day, would be happy that there is no one to knock good sense into!
Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem
Right to life and Right to vote
Salute to the High Court of Mumbai at Goa, for taking up the PIL filed by SGBA, regarding mismanagement of medical infrastructure, resulting loss of lives, specially at dark hours of night, of Covid-19 patients.
The situation in Goa, is really serious, now with new virus – black fungus and after effects of cyclone. We hope and pray, at least now all will fall in place to guarantee the Right to life. Our sympathies and condolences to all families, who lost their near and dea r ones, victims of Covid-19. Emotions, frustration, resentment and agonies of the relatives, were hard to bear. God heal the bleeding wounds and give grace to face the unexpected situation and RIP to the departed.
Though the Govt. had sufficient time to plan and prepare for the second wave, the results are for all to see. At this critical times, the best thing we all can do, is to extend all possible help and surrender all Govt. functionaries, responsible for the mess and loss of innocent lives, to Divine, Higher Power to take care of their sins of omissions and commissions.
The role of Opposition MLAs, consisting mostly ex-chief ministers, needs to be more forceful and constructive. There is lot of homework to be done, so as to bombard the next Assembly session with all shortfalls and come together now, for a good cause, keeping aside all differences. Urgent need for Govt. machinery to plan, prepare and organise well to face the third wave of Covid-19 and black fungus.
And we the voters, what we observe now, specially shortfalls of medical infrastructure at village level, lack of participatory planning,etc. at least in the near future lets think well to use our Right to Vote, so that we can get the Govt. of our choice.
The shortage of O2, and it’s consequences reminds us the free oxygen we breathe daily through various plants /trees. Can we appeal ,we go for a massive tree plantation drive, with the help of Goa State Biodiversity Board, so that we exercise well our Rights to Life, right to vote and right to Live and let live.
R.D.Rebello, Chinchinim
Modi’s aerial survey of cyclone damage
Narendra Modi undertook an aerial survey of Gujarat where Cyclone Tauktae had made landfall and immediately announced Rs 1000 crore for disaster relief.
No one is complaining against Gujarat but this privilege of a PM’s survey and immediate relief was not accorded to the coastal areas of other States like Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra which the cyclone had hit and caused damage. Not only that disaster relief is normally given after Central teams have come and assessed damage which takes quite some time. But maybe this was a 1-man Central team competent enough to do spot assessment and that too from the air and sanction Rs. 1000 crores!
We all know Modi is from Gujarat and he is bound to have a soft corner for the State but as PM he should not behave in such an obviously partisan manner.
Srinivas Kamat, Alto St Cruz
