Gracy Tripathy & Rahul Singh
Port Blair, August 30: The PRI members of Great Nicobar have brought up many Covid-19 infection related issues faced by the people of the Southern-most territory of India.
In a joint letter addressed to the Lieutenant Governor, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and other top officials of Administration, the PRI members of Great Nicobar namely Rosaliya Kullu , Pradhan,Govind Nagar, E.S. Rajesh, Pradhan, Laxmi Nagar, K.Raja , Pradhan, Campbell Bay, G.Venkat Rao, Deputy Chief, Panchayat Samiti , Campbell Bay, Manjula Lakra, chief, Panchayat Samiti Campbell, Sandeep Kalyan Chakrawarthy, Zilla Parishad member, Laxmi Nagar constituency, Gagandeep Singh Grewal, vice chairman, Zilla Parishad, South Andaman, Port Blair, said that finally the Covid-19 cases have reached Campbell Bay which has caused the first death of a resident of Great Nicobar due to Covid-19.
They alleged that this first death case reflects the deficiencies in the preparation to fight against this pandemic, despite the frequent approaches from the members of PRI to the local and district administration.
They highlighted several points to fight COVID19 in the Island, which are given below:
1) Most essential medicines and equipments, which are required for the treatment of corona positive patients are lacking. It is also requested to ensure availability of sufficient medicines in the PHC Campbell Bay for the treatment of Corona positive patients.
2) As per the information from PHC, Campbell Bay, about only 15 to 20 Oxygen Cylinders are available in their stock, however at least 150 Oxygen cylinders are needed to be kept as standby.
3) Two Ventilators with nominal staffs are required to be kept as reserve, keeping the view for mode of transportation.
4) Presently only one ambulance and a driver is available in service for 24hrs, which is insufficient. The driver unable to render his service for 24 hours continuously, it is requested to provide one more ambulance with a driver immediately. If not possible to provide the same at present, then at least an eligible local unemployed youth be appointed as a driver and a vehicle be hired from the local people.
5) A separate mortuary van with a driver is also in need to carry the dead body COVID-19 patient.
6) A Cremation team consisting regular labourers from Govt. Department is required immediately, for the arrangement of safe cremation of dead bodies of people dying because of COVID19.
7) The identified/specified quarantine Centre/Covid-19 Hospital be developed with full facilities to provide continuous services to the Corona patients for 24 hours.
A General Doctor along with a Corona expert Doctor may be deputed, so that the corona patient could get timely and proper treatment.
8) To make necessary arrangement for the treatment of home quarantine patient. COVID test is very low in the Island, it should be increased and mandatory COVID test of all home quarantine people should be carried out too.
9) Oftentimes, it is required to refer the Corona patient to G.B. Pant Hospital by Air lifting during critical condition, in which about 12hours lapse occurs fulfilling all the formalities therefore, a Pawan Hans Helicopter may be kept as standby at Campbell bay, so that the serious patients could reach G.B.Pant Hospital within two hours.
