PANJIM: Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) Dean Dr Shivanand Bandekar has stressed the need of starting mobile units for door-to-door testing and encouraging voluntary testing for Coronavirus.
Dr Bandekar said this during a debate titled “The Harsh Reality of COVID-19” hosted by Juino De Souza on HCN. The debate brought to light several issues including the reason why Coronavirus cases are rising in Goa and whether the government hospitals are fully equipped and prepared to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr Bandekar said that GMC is fully equipped to deal with the rising Coronavirus cases in the State as more number of beds has been added with every bed having a high nasal oxygen flow unit and 200 ventilators to cope with Coronavirus. There is no need for fear psychosis. Also the public can dial 104 for any COVID-19 related query.
Dr Jose D’Sa said that all home quarantine patients are regularly monitored by the doctors. He said Covishield vaccine is well tested and approved by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. So far 1.38 people have been vaccinated in Goa, he added.
The panel comprising Dr Bandekar, Dr D’Sa and North Goa Additional Collector-II Narayan Gad discussed the need to step up
vaccination and the efficacy of the Covishield and whether the vaccine has side effects and can cause adverse reactions and whether the hordes of tourists who are flocking Goa are maintaining social distancing and wearing mask and why the administration is not strictly implementing the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Both, Dr Bandekar and Dr D’Sa claimed that vaccine has no side-effects and it has 78 per cent efficacy and no mortality.
Additional Collector Narayan Gad informed that the government is creating awareness about Coronavirus on two fronts – COVID appropriate behaviour and awareness on vaccination at taluka-level. Control rooms 24×7 have been set up in both the districts and task force at every taluka level have also been constituted to combat the Coronavirus.
Gad said that the SOPs should be strictly followed and that the government is trying to ensure that maximum people will take Covishield vaccine. The debate will be telecast on HCN channel shortly.
