Team Herald
VASCO: Goa United Workmen Union (GUWU) President Olencio Simoes on Friday hit out at the State administration especially the Health Department for failing to admit COVID patients from Zuarinagar, Velsao, Cansaulim and nearby areas into the hospitals and in Goa as a whole due to unavailability of beds at Chicalim Health Centre and all COVID centres in South Goa.
Simoes in his press release stated that Health Minister Vishwajit Rane had stated that “if the cases increase, 2000-bed capacity will be arranged” which seems is not yet materialised according to his alternate plan which he had stated 10 days ago, now if even a single death takes place in South Goa who will take the responsibility?” Simoes posed pointed questions.
Further, Arun Galve, general secretary of GUWU stated that one private company at Zuarinagar was the first company to test all their employees with the help of private agency but the irony of the situation is that 23 employees who have been tested positive for past three days have been sent back by Chicalim Health Centre due to unavailability of beds and since then all these patients are living in fear and severe trauma. This shows laxity in implementing guidelines.
He has further appealed to the concerned authorities including the local MLA Alina Saldanha to take necessary action before any fatality occurs.
“We demand that since Zuarinagar has the highest population of around 25,000 people, the government needs to setup a COVID Care Centre or a hospital at Kala Bhavan, Zuarinagar or at Cansaulim Primary Health Centre for the people of Cortalim Constituency on a whole, as we already have 200 COVID cases and one death at Zuarinagar. This virus is likely to spread in entire Cortalim Constituency and the numbers are spiralling. We hope the government hears our plea and immediate action is taken,” Salve said.
