In Goa, where cases continue to surge coupled with deaths, there is hardly any stoppage as the frontline Corona soldiers are leaving no stone unturned in performing their duty round the clock. Despite fellow mates being tested positive for COVID-19, these warriors are continuing to perform their duty with passion like never before, to fight against the pandemic.
During the outbreak, besides the doctors and the police; the fire force and workers across a vast array of sectors have formed an essential part considering that they are required to do their jobs despite great risk.
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The State, which once had seven cases creating panic and nervousness among the public reported zero cases in the third week of April. Declared Green Zone in May, the safe State began to get new cases, outbreak at certain zones and deaths. The work of the frontline warriors has further intensified and it is during this period that some of them were infected.
Regardless of this change in their lives, they continue to do the work. While the Health sector is tirelessly on the job, the other frontline soldiers are too not left behind.
Director General of Police
Director General of Police (DGP) Mukesh Kumar Meena joined Goa Police at a time when several policemen from Ponda police station were found to be infected with the virus.
Until then, IGP Jaspal Singh had re-circulated advisory within the department on safety standards.
Meena on being asked about increasing cases in the department gave an expected answer. “We have to ensure policing but we also have to see the safety of our policemen. Our policemen are deployed at containment zones, cities, borders, etc. Since it is the duty, we have to assist the administration in controlling the spread of the virus. Risk is always there but we will take measures. This is the first priority in Goa,” he told reporters soon after taking charge.
While the policemen are braving the infection while also carrying out their duty; the fire force has also remained a major component in the fight against COVID-19. Since the outbreak, they are largely involved in sanitizing the infected places – also a riskier task.
Director, Fire & Emergency Services
Director of the Directorate of Fire & Emergency Services Ashok Menon said that initial response to the COVID-19 threat did not involve his dept, since there were no local cases and the suspected cases coming from outside the State were dealt with at the airport and the Special ward in the GMC
“Later, the full-fledged COVID-19 Hospital was set up at ESI Hospital, Margao. Towards the end of the first lockdown as the State was getting ready for a possible opening up, in view of Goa then being in the Green Zone; the dept was assigned the task of sanitizing the public spaces like bus stands, quarantine centres etc. We coordinated with the Directorate of Municipal Administration, the Directorate of Panchayats and the local bodies to execute the sanitisation successfully. This initiative of sanitisation has been adopted by many States in India,” he told Herald as the dept has reported 6 cases so far.
The sanitization teams who are directly spraying and handling the disinfectant chemical (Sodium Hypochlorite Solution 2 percent) are provided with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as ample precaution.
Since precautions are a must, the govt promptly sanctioned department’s requirement in this regard and the procurement was done expeditiously. Menon said that a SOP was laid down for the Sanitization / disinfectant operations so as to ensure the safety of the teams as well as the other fire crew in the respective Fire Stations. These instructions covered the actual operations, the preparation for the same and actions on return to the Fire Stations.
“Protective masks were procured expeditiously and made available to all fire personnel of the department who are given the task of disinfecting or sanitization to ensure compliance with the COVID-19 instructions of the government from time to time,” he added.
With handling their routine task on fire and emergency services, the department has also tackled the recent cyclone dealing with tree falls, damage to homes etc.
For these frontline warriors, fear of the virus is far from their mind as duty towards the citizens and the State has been their first priority.
