PONDA: Amid concerns that authorities in Ponda have earmarked facilities in the town in case Ebola patients are quarantined or succumb to the dreaded disease, Ponda Sub District Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Pradeep Shinkre has assured that all steps have been taken to ensure the safety of residents in the town.
“Though this is a dreaded disease and deaths have occurred due to Ebola in different parts of the world, the public should not panic over Ebola as adequate checking system is being adopted all over the world to detect the cases at the initial stage,” said Dr Shinkre, who is also part of the trained staff if Ebola patients are identified in Goa.
“There is a less chance that Ebola patients will be present in Goa due to multiple checking systems, but we are prepared to meet any such eventuality,” he said.
He informed that a special unit at the Ponda Sub district hospital has been identified to isolate and treat Ebola patients.
“This ward will be away from the general ward and will be fully isolated,” he assured.
“Only doctors and nurses provided with special training will be permitted to treat Ebola patients and only they will enter this unit in case any Ebola patient is admitted. Moreover, the trained staff will have fool-proof security gowns or aprons and masks, classified as Personal Protective Equipment (PPF). These PPF’s will be provided to all staff, including doctors, nurses and even drivers of the ambulances,” he said.
Dr Shinkre and his colleague Dr Pranay Budkule assured that the staff is fully prepared to attend to any Ebola patient detected at the Dabolim Airport.
“Proper precautionary measures are being taken not only at the Chicalim Cottage hospital in Vasco and here at the Sub District Hospital in Ponda, but also at the international level,” said Dr Shinkre.
“Tourist from Nigeria, Liberia and Ebola-prone countries in Africa will be checked strictly in three categories for the disease. If a person is found with Ebola like symptoms, their blood samples will be sent to Pune or Delhi. If found positive, they will be treated as per guidelines of the WHO,” said Dr Shinkre.
Meanwhile, concern was also raised after the Ponda Municipal Council is reported to have allotted one part of the PMC crematorium to bury any person dying of Ebola disease.
While World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines specify that the body of an Ebola-victim should be buried at a place other than at general crematorium, the PMC decided to reserve a portion of its crematorium for bodies of Ebola patients.
While PMC chairperson Radhika Nayak was not available to comment in the matter as she is on leave, PMC Councillor Sunil Desai confirmed to Herald that an “isolated corner” at the PMC crematorium had been reserved to bury any person dying of the dreaded disease.
PMC Chief Officer Johnson Fernandes had told reporters that the isolated spot in the crematorium would be used only if any Ebola victim is found and dies in Ponda.
Dr Utkarsh Betodkar, nodal officer of the Ebola core committee, had told mediapersons that bodies of Ebola victims would be shifted directly to the isolated portion of the crematorium.
