Team Herald
PANJIM: Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Saturday the government is doing everything it can to ensure that the infrastructure in the State is not found to be lacking in any way when dealing with COVID.
Addressing the State by going ‘live’ on social media, the CM covered the government’s efforts to tackle the prevailing COVID pandemic as well as the government’s achievements in the last two years under his tenure.
On COVID, Sawant referred to the availability of beds, medicine etc at Goa Medical College (GMC), South Goa District Hospital (SGDH), ESI Hospital etc. He also mentioned his interaction with doctors and health officials earlier in the day. Sawant also stated that one of the two oxygen plants being sanctioned under the PM Cares Fund will be ready by May 15. He added that the Super Speciality Hospital at GMC will be ready by May 15.
Sawant also shared the helpline numbers COVID-19 helpline numbers at the hospitals, ESI is 0832-2703036, SGDH is 0832-2727300 and Sub District Hospital Ponda is 7020973897
Urging the public to get themselves tested or diagnosed at a hospital as soon as they start getting symptoms, Sawant expressed his sadness on the rise in mortality rate in the State. He spoke about how people should opt for home isolation and how they can visit COVID Care Centres, besides visiting government and private hospitals for COVID treatment.
He said on a daily basis, about three-four patients are brought dead while three-four patients are expiring within 24 hours of being admitted to the hospital. He lamented that sometimes people go to the hospital too late and that they are in a state that is beyond treatment.
The CM also spoke about how the general public should now adopt COVID-appropriate behaviour given that the coronavirus is going to be around for a long time. He called on youngsters to avoid large gatherings such as partying or organising tournaments etc.
He emphasized on the need for the people to participate in the ongoing vaccination drives and how it can help save lives. He said the government is committed to giving free vaccination at its centres while mentioning that paid vaccination is also an option for the public.
He also appealed to people to donate plasma and added that there will be benefits such as transport arrangements; appreciate certificates etc for such persons.
While defending his decision not to go for a lockdown and speaking about the restrictions he recently imposed, Sawant also said it was important economic activities are not affected. He urged the opposition not to play politics over these issues.
While speaking about his two year tenure, Sawant said his biggest lessons were COVID and financial management.
In his lengthy summarisation of all the measures his government has taken, Sawant emphasised on the State administration’s push towards a Swayampurna Goa and how Swayampurna Mitras have been trained and appointed for the same.
He further announced that 50,000 jobs will be created in the next three years, which also includes employment generation in the private sector.
He further gave an assurance that the mining industry will resume in the State via the Goa Mining Corporation. He then outlined steps taken by his government at the Supreme Court to protect River Mhadei from being diverted to Karnataka and expressed confidence that the government will win that battle.
Sawant also highlighted the steps the government will take to celebrate its 60th year of liberation after it received an Rs 300 crore grant from the Central government for the same.
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CM holds video conference to assess health scenario
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Saturday morning held a video conference (VC) with the Medical Superintendent, Health officers of Health Department and doctors from Goa Medical College (GMC) to review the COVID-19 situation in the State.
Also present were the Health Minister, Chief Secretary, Secretary (Health) and Director of Health Services.
The CM also spoke to those who are in-charge of the hospitals and health centres to boost up the morale of doctors and paramedics who have been working during the pandemic.
He also directed the Secretary (Health) to have a meeting of experts of government and private sector to revise the treatment protocols keeping in view the current situation.
He further assessed the bed situation in hospitals, oxygen supply, availability of drugs, human resource availability, status of COVID hospitals and Covid care centres.
He held a discussion on the best strategies to reduce the high mortality rate and reviewed the testing facilities, availability of kits, and directed that testing be outsourced to reduce pendency so that people get reports as early as possible. He urged the department to make more mobile vans operational.
At the meeting, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane also shared his views and new initiatives to strengthen the measures against COVID-19. Rane suggested various ways to increase the bed strength in GMC in the super speciality block.
Sawant and Rane also had another round of interaction with the Medical superintendent and Health officers.
“Held a meeting over VC with all the health officers of DHS to review the COVID-19 situation in the State. Received quality inputs from the officials of Health Department who are working on the ground, which will help us greatly in strategizing our further action plan,” Sawant tweeted.
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Visits GMC to assess oxygen supply, super speciality block
Stating that the government was on alert mode following the two fire outbreaks in hospitals in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant inspected the area where oxygen cylinders are stored at Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) on Saturday.
Along with him were Chief Secretary Parimal Rai and GMC Dean Dr Shivanand Bandekar.
While the CM also reviewed the COVID management at GMC, he also assessed the ongoing work at the Super Speciality Block, which will soon start accommodating COVID patients.
Speaking to the media, he said that earlier in the week, there were instances of oxygen supply being less but that the situation is under control now and oxygen levels are being maintained.
He added that besides receiving oxygen from the four plants in Goa, they are also receiving liquid oxygen on a daily basis from the plant in Kolhapur as part of the Centre’s revised allocation.
Sawant also announced that under the PM Care fund, an oxygen plant is being constructed at the Super Speciality block and that one more will be constructed at the South Goa District Hospital (SGDH).
He said he reviewed how oxygen will be sent to GMC and the other hospitals that have COVID wards.
Sawant also instructed the Fire Department to ensure that a fire station vehicle is kept at all times at GMC, SGDH and the ESI hospital in Margao.
He also said strict precautions have to be maintained at all these hospitals to prevent any incident where there is a fire break out.
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Late night holds video conferencing with Indian Medical Association
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant held a video conference (VC) with doctors from the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Goa Unit. The discussion was on the strategy for COVID management in the State and about involving private practitioners in the fight against COVID. The CM also spoke of his earlier VC with health officials regarding decisions on treatment of COVID patients. The CM had recently announced that IMA has restarted its programme of providing telemedicine and monitoring support to people who had tested positive for COVID-19 and are under home isolation. Dr Shekhar Salkar of Manipal Hospital, GMC Dean Dr Shivanand Bandekar, Director of DHS Dr Jose De Sa, Health Secretary Ravi Dhawan amongst others were present for the same.
