PANJIM: Political leaders, like-minded citizens and COVID-19 volunteers have appealed to the High Court of Bombay at Goa for door-to-door vaccination for citizens unable to make it to the vaccination centres. This, the petitioners said, can be followed in line with the policy adopted across some States.
“A door-to-door rather than near to door vaccination model/policy needs to be adopted and implemented more particularly for the elderly, disabled/immobile, physically challenged, specially abled, bed-ridden, economically weaker sections of the society, who are unable to visit the centres for the jabs. Similar, strategy is also adopted by States namely Kerala, Bihar and Kashmir,” states one of the suggestions by the petitioners on COVID-19 management in Goa.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
The petitioners also hinted at insisting on RT PCR negative test only instead of Antigen test, which is unreliable.
“All those entering the State should produce a RT PCR COVID negative test report obtained within 72 hours of travel. Antigen testing is not reliable particularly in asymptomatic and early stage infections,” it said.
The government had recently issued orders permitting travellers to Goa to provide COVID-19 negative certificate of any test authorised by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
The High Court, hearing a batch of petitions on the issue for over a month, had on June 10 directed the petitioners to submit a chart in coordination with the government lawyers on pending issues only requiring judicial intervention on COVID-19 management in Goa.
The petitioners further suggested that mass gatherings of more than 50 persons, large religious, political and social gatherings should be prohibited at least for the next six months; and that commercial and other public activities such as cinemas, malls, markets, sports tournaments etc should be allowed to restart in a phased manner with restrictions on the number of persons allowed to gather.
“It is high time that the State is not in a defensive but should adopt a pro-active stance, where it has to chase the disease rather than await its wrath,” it said as 30 pages of suggestions were submitted to the Bench on Monday.
Regarding nutrition to patients, one of the petitioners said that relatives or patients, whether it is convenience, or whether it is affordability, must be allowed to bring their own food into the hospital building.
“The patients under treatment are required to get nutritious food… the costs involved, and the fact that many patients and their relatives find it financially challenging to be forced to only purchase food from the in house canteen service provider… it is unreasonable to place this restriction on home cooked meals or food from outside being brought for the patients and instead, relatives are forced to purchase products from the canteen. The(re) is no special diet prescribed for COVID patients. They are required to have good nutrition and protein rich diet. The same is not met and sometimes the relatives would like to supplement their nutrition with home cooked food,” the suggestions mention.
The suggestions’ chart also mentioned about formulation of procurement policy for the procurement of Amphotericin B, and diagnosis of black fungus — multi-disciplinary approach and preparedness of private medical hospitals. The Court is scheduled to hear the matter on Thursday.
