Several Doctors raise concern over the decision taken for shifting COVID19 Isolation ward near the Surgical OT at GBPH

Sarthak Kanjjilall & John Wilbert

Port Blair, August 21: Several Doctors and Islanders have raised serious concern over the decision taken by the Hospital authorities to shift the COVID19 Isolation ward, close to Surgical Operation Theater of the hospital.

As per the doctors and public, this decision may turn into a blunder and the situation may turn even worse than now.

“Also, if the wards close to OT, are used for COVID-19 patients where the surgery will be done for normal emergency patients,” stated a Doctor in social media chatroom.

On the other hand, Dr. Arun Mallik, Independent Public Health Expert, in his opinion social media claimed that the Andaman Nicobar administration and Health Department is not following proper MoHFW guidelines effectively.

“We have to stop unavoidable and unaccepted deaths and therefore it is very important to follow the three effective weapons ie. Containment, Contact Tracing, and Surveillance, if at all the administration and it’s health team fails to follow the three effective weapons which are also stated by the PM, we will continue to have more infections and deaths,” Dr. Mallik stated.

Meanwhile, talking to Andaman Sheekha, Dr. Ashok Kumar Dubey, Director, Health Department, Andaman and Nicobar Islands said the main treatment for COVID19 is oxygen for admitted patients as at the time when the patient goes under the critical condition, he or she requires oxygen and that’s the reason we are shifting the COVID19 Isolation ward close to OT, where centralize oxygen supply facility is available.

“The pipe in the OT will be connected to a Jumbo cylinder to almost 10 beds and whenever any patient is found to be critical and needs oxygen support they will be shifted here without a delay, in the present Corona wards we have to change the cylinders every now and then which takes time,” said Mr. Dubey.

Dr. Dubey also said that the nearby four wards of the OT will be vacated and all those will be converted to COVID wards and in these wards asymptomatic and symptomatic patients will be kept separately.

“There is surgical wards and OT downstairs also where normal surgery will be conducted, in case of emergency,” Dr. Dubey said.

Dr. Dubey also added that the other entrance near to the OT area will be blocked using barricades so that no one can enter in the COVID19 wards.