Predictive Third Wave
It’s really baffling to comprehend the elusive Coronavirus that has been omnipresent without a hint of catching it and bottling it up just as it has escaped in a failed lab-induced experiment in Wuhan and transmitted via the 5G network duly supported by AI.
Now we are on the cusp of the upcoming third wave with proactive steps taken by the government to break the chain of infection. As reported there is no sure fire approach to tame the virus as both vaccinated and non vaccinated persons fall victim to the dreaded COVID-19 and the government insists without its efficacy proof to inoculate maximum numbers of the population to achieve herd immunity. Without providing relief to the adult population, the Government is jumping the gun by now experimenting with developing a vaccine for children who have low immunity and who may not be able to sustain the after-effects of the vaccination. Even front line workers, hospital staff including nurses and doctors are victims to the killer virus, the latest casualty being the high profile ex-President of the Indian Medical Association Dr Aggarwal. The scientific community of research fellows, doctors and hospitals needs to come together to fight this scourge against humanity and not leave to the political class who do not have the expertise and wherewithal in dealing with the calamity of such proportions.
Everette Assis Telles, Margao
Experts’ panel to handle pandemic
The State Government has constituted a panel of medical experts who are well known government doctors and private practitioners. The panel has already predicted that come September and Goa would face the 3rd wave of the pandemic. Not only this but also that this time children would be more affected by the virus and this is an upsetting and scary news.
The experts have asked the government to gear up and arrange the required facilities and not be caught unaware as it happened in the ongoing 2nd wave. In the fitness of things, the people would like to know the basis on which the panel is predicting the onset of the 3rd wave and that children would be specifically impacted.
Is the warning founded on some recent studies, observations of data of other countries/Indian States or mathematical modelling? The panel could publish in newspapers its observations and recommendations to avoid/minimise the 3rd wave. The information would be useful the people who could take utmost precautions.
Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem
Vaccination prog not organised
More and more vaccination centres are being opened at several locations not just in Goa but in several other places like Mumbai. That’s the good news, when people are now eager to get vaccinated after the initial apprehensions. But the sad part is that, the whole programme of vaccinations is so unorganised that it seems to have landed in a mess.
In Mumbai, several vaccination centres are being opened but there is no stock of vaccines available. The global tenders floated by the civic authorities for vaccines, seem to have drawn a blank. Distribution of local vaccines has gone haywire. Is this the way one goes about such an important programme? It is the lives of citizens which are at stake. The earlier the authorities wake up the better will it be.
In the meanwhile, the authorities need to come out clean over the effectiveness and the side-effects of the vaccines. Many have got infected after the first shot and have passed away. Is there an assurance from the authorities that the vaccines are safe in the first place?
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai
Sustainable tourism?
Watching the video of the construction of a concrete wall right on the Vainguinim beach, one clearly sees the same is not a repair job. Such a brazen act is most deplorable and more so the claim that the same was a repair job and also to stop erosion! Beach erosion prevention is a highly scientific process beyond the capabilities of even the Water Resources Dept.
This act must serve as a precedent that businessmen are not capable of looking after natural resources. This includes deposits like iron ore and manganese. The beach, gifted to them by way of an ordinance, must be taken back. Let us not forget that it was the Opposition Leader Kamat who gifted this beach to them.
This culture in Goa whereby, once elected, the politicians behave like they have been ‘leased the State for 5 years to do as they please’ must go. The Pandemic has shown that none of the current 40 can govern. The Dr Rajendra Prasad Stadium is leased for 99 years to Margao Cricket Club (MCC). It cannot even be requisitioned as a Covid centre!
R Fernandes, Margao
Sanitary check must for public toilets
Though the viral caseload is witnessing a declining trend in Goa, the Health ministry needs to take a long hard look at public pay toilets used by thousands which could be potential Covid super spreader zones. The paid public toilet at Margao KTC bus station and the one adjoining the Osia complex are cases in point. Besides very poor structural maintenance of the building there is no temperature check for users before entry or hand sanitisation facilities, ventilation and continuous water supply are practically non-existent. The stench of urine and faeces pervades the premises at all times as no periodical fogging/fumigation is ever carried out.
At many places mosquito larvae are found breeding in stagnant water around the buildings, as if the savagery wreaked by Covid was not enough, we now are in very real danger of a malarial epidemic swamping us. No inspection of the facility is carried out either by the bus station manager or the sanitation inspectors.
Structural and sanitary audit carried out by the Health department is a must for all such public toilets and units not confirming to prescribed hygiene standards should either be upgraded or closed down. It is understood that the Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited has floated tenders for maintenance of the public pay toilets but there is opacity about the submitted bids yet, I request the government to take cognisance of this potential Covid time bomb and take pertinent measures asap.
Vinay Dwivedi, Benaulim
Ramdev’s statements on allopathy stupid?
Yoga guru Ramdev’s statement in the presence of the Union health minister while releasing his medicines on allopathic medicines is extremely unfortunate. Ramdev has claimed that allopathy is a “stupid science” and medicines such as remdesivir, faviflu, and other drugs approved by the Drugs Controller General of India have failed to treat Covid-19 patients. He goes on saying ‘lakhs of people have died after taking allopathic medicines’. And this statement disrespects the corona warriors and hurt the sentiments of the country. He is misleading people by making “unlearned” statements against allopathy.
Ramdev is taking advantage of the situation and creating fear among the public to sell his illegal drugs. He has the temerity to mock people’s desperate situation. Person of his stature should have avoided giving controversial statements in public as his statement has the potential to incite hatred and mistrust against allopathy and its practitioners. Ramdev should be prosecuted under the Epidemic Diseases Act as his untutored statements are a threat to the literate society of the country as well as to the poor people falling prey to him.
K G Vilop, Chorao
