Dr.Dinesh
CANI-SMCP( Chennai Andaman &Nicobar Islands – Sub-marine Cable Project) is basically provisioning of submarine Optical Fiber connectivity between Chennai and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. A successful test run was done between Port Blair and Chennai late in the evening on 7/3/2020. Main Segment will be Chennai- Port Blair;( Initial Equipped Capacity: 400 Gbps);Other Segments(Initial Equipped Capacity : 200 Gbps)
4 Fiber Pair Cable System, out of which, Two Fiber pairs (FP) are installed initially. One will remain spare. Ultimate bandwidth capacity is 6.4 terabytes per second, per fiber-pair (there are two pairs);the physical connectivity will remain within the islands and the mainland only. The Submarine cable project is about to usher in a revolution in Internet Bandwidth in the Islands. People will enjoy about a 1000 times higher speed than ever, conservatively speaking. Of course, with increasing number of users, the speed will reduce somewhat, but still phenomenal. The under-sea cable has been laid and connected between Chennai and Port Blair. The first voice-call has also been made on 07/03/2020 between Port Blair and Chennai, using the facility and this is just the beginning. From Port Blair to the other stations at Havelock, Long Island, Rangat, Hut Bay, Car Nicobar, Kamorta and Campbell Bay, under-sea cable is being laid currently.
Consider current speed at 200 mbps, which is more than actually available. New immediate capacity between Chennai and Port Blair is 400 GB, that is 400000 mbps, now divide this by 200 mbps, the result is 2000 times. Similarly in the other Islands, consider current bandwidth as 100mbps, new bandwidth initially will be 200000 mbps, result is 2000 times, the ultimate capacity is 6.4 TBps, that is equal to 6400000mbps, divide that by the existing 200mbps, the result is 32000 times.
Also consider that the current Internet bandwidth in the Island is much lesser than 200mbps, so even conservatively, the difference will be much higher. Again, there will be many more subscribers sharing the 400GBps or the ultimate 6.4TBps bandwidth, which will reduce the individual bandwidth/ data speed in multiples, but even then it will be significantly higher.
The maximum available bandwidth at any time, in the existing scenario is one GB(shared into number of total users), the immediate new capacity will be 400 GB between Port Blair and Chennai and 200 GB between Port Blair and other locations, this capacity can be augmented upto 64000 GB(6.4TBps),( so you can calculate the increase in internet speed accordingly.
Logistics was a very big challenge to meet the deadline, in this state-of-the-art project of global standards. But the BSNL team, in coordination with M/s NECTI, TCIL and Department of Telecom, along with the local bodies, have overcome most difficulties. The project is already a big success technologically and strategically. The real success will be visible then, when it changes the lives of the Islanders for the better, in the coming future. Currently, the back-end connectivity’s are going on, in between the CLS and the local telephone exchanges and BTSs. In order to extend the extra band-width to the customers, the back-haul of BTSs are being upgraded and expanded. Similarly, DSLAMs of all Exchanges are being upgraded in the back-end. The back-bone network in various places too is being upgraded, so that they can fully utilize the newly-laid OFC infrastructure. Many units of BSNL are closely coordinating with each other and also, other agencies to tie up these loose ends. Various other clearances, like Wild-life clearance, etc are also being pursued in parallel.
It will be an important development as the Islands are of strategic importance to India. By and by, there will be a plethora of choice for the individual users regarding the broadband service providers. Naturally, competition will ensure that people get the best connectivity at an affordable price. The situation may lead to an IT boom in the Islands, which means, a lot of development and opportunities for the younger generation and entrepreneurs alike, even in the remotest part of the country. One can use their existing modems, etc, or may also upgrade them, if one chooses. There will be a synergy of various events, like On-line retailing will take off in a big way. The islanders can take advantage of tele-medicine and distant-education on the back of a reliable, high-capacity bandwidth and feel more integrated with the rest of the country, or the World at large, like never before. They can truly become a part of the global economy. The socio-economic ecosystem is bound to change and the Islands can be India’s far-eastern gate-way for the global economy. Individuals can become local content-providers and consultants on a global scale. The scope is unlimited and will slowly unfold in the coming times.
Nicobar Diary- A Re-look into the History part -11
Dr.Dinesh
Continued from Nicobar Diary part-10
(Letter to Prime Minister Shri..Jawaharlal Nehru)
FIRST EUROPEAN ASSISTANT COMMISSSIONER
As the former agent or Tehsildar were trustworthy the Nicobarese made complaint to the administration to appoint European officers.
Mr.Hart was the first European Assistant Commissioner of the Nicobars. He was a headmaster of the school in Mandalay, where John Richardson was his pupil from 1905 -1911. He was spared by the bishop of Rangoon, who was requested by the administration to look for a man to fill the post.
He came to Car Nicobar in 1928. But he was not a stranger, for he paid a visit to Car Nicobar in 1908 on holiday.
In 1930 complaints were received from Nancowrie about the bad behavior of the Tehsildar. He was deputed by the administration to enquire about the complaint and spent a month at the head quarter at Camorta. When he returned to Car Nicobar as the result of enquiry, the Tehsildar was dismissed from his post. The people of Nancowrie were very pleased about the decision of the Government.
After his return from Nancowrie, he was infected with malaria and was very ill. There was a ship ready loaded with copra lying at anchor. He did not know about it. John Richardson issued the port clearance of the ship to Moulmein, a port in Burma and an urgent telegram to the captain, instructed him to dispatch it as soon as he reaches port. There was no wireless communication at the time.
The ship, with favourable wind reached her destination in 4 days. The telegram was dispatched at once, and received at Port Blair by midnight. Immediately the Chief Commissioner sent the station steamer with two doctors. She reached Car Nicobar the next day at 10 a.m. he was not told that a ship was coming with two doctors to remove him to Port Blair. He was surprised when he was removed in stretcher to the ship and was at Port Blair Hospital the next morning.
After his recovery he was given a year home leave and john Richardson was instructed to act for him as Assistant Commissioner Nicobar. A year leave he returned to Car Nicobar and resumed his work. In January 1931, there was a riot in Perka village with traders. Mr. Hart was at Port Blair for Christmas and New Year, and John Richardson was left in charge as usual for weeks.
CAUSE OF RIOT
A Nicobarese came drunk in a shop of Minicoyan and sat in the chair uninvited, with his naked body in his loin cloth. This has polluted place of Muslim. He gave the Nicobarese a good slaps on the face and several blows as well as pushed him out of his shop.
Unfortunately, the Nicobarese was a son-in-law of a great influential headman of Perka village. He went away quietly and told his father-in-law, who at once gave order that men and boys get coconut leaves torches and set all the shop on fire at Malacca, (there were no shops at Perka). From perka village with lines of torchlights were proceeding to Malacca and all 50 shops in flames in no time. By the time the news reaches me at 8 pm all shops were reduced to cinders. I was warned by some of leading traders not to go there that night, as the tempers of the crowds were still very hot, and there nothing to save. All live goats and cattle’s were burnt in their sheds and were lying dead in their places.
I had with me one Burmese peon. One carpenter and two malis. There was no police guards at the times. I called them next morning and went to the scene at Malacca village. I met headman Kokali and asked him what had happened. I told they have made a great mistake by not informing the administration at first. He said that a trader severely beat his son-in-law and gave him many blows with close fists and it was right that we have retaliated. I thought it was no good of enquiring with him he was in such a mood. After inspecting the extension of the damages. Not a hope was left standing. All were in ashes. I could not do anything; there was no means of sending message to Port Blair, as wireless station was not installed at the Nicobars. We returned to Mus, our head quarter.
A few days after Mr. E. Hart the A.C.N arrived. I boarded the ship at once and informed him what had happened. He communicated to Port Blair and the ship went back at once. In the evening I took Mr.E.Hart to the scene of the riot and back to Mus again.
After two days the ship returned to Car Nicobar at 9 p.m with the police superintendent and 80 police force. They landed quietly. They marched from Sawai bay and 40 party of police were dropped at the school house, and the other 40 with the superintendent proceeding to the government house. Mr. Hart came to wake me and told me to take the 40 police and meeting them on the road by a well at Mus. My party arrived first at the rendezvous. There we held a council. I was to take my party on the jungle side of the road at Perka village while the other take the beach side of the road.
Our next stop was between Big Lapathi and Tapoiming villages for 10 minutes. The last stop was near Tamaloo village, which is next to Perka. When we reached Perka, we parted. At every house a headman was arrested. In the morning, we met at Malacca village where the steamer was to come and pick up the officers and captives. The headman Kokali was among the arrested. The ship arrived at 9 a.m from Sawai Bay, took the officers and prisoners to Port Blair, we made our way back again to Mus village.
After the enquiry of the case, the perk people were fined one lakh pairs of coconuts and the headman to undergo punishment also. In few months, half a lakh pairs of coconuts was collected by traders as compensation. The traders were not free from fault. The man who hit the Nicobarese was asked to deposit his trading license.
By the time the leader of the Mincoyan community came from his Island. He told his own people that they were also in the wrong, so the half a lakh pairs of coconuts already paid was sufficient enough for compensation and the other half was exempted. The decision settled the case out of court and Minicoyan and Niocbarese became friends again. The headman were released after a years simple imprisonment.
The Perk villagers are noted for their hot head. They have murdered a party of Burma’s some years before, and a Nicobarese woman of the same village, also escaped from being murdered with the burmese and sailed away in a ship to Moulmein, where she embraced Buddhism and became nun.
- Ex- Dental Surgeon of Government Civil Hospital (now known as Bishop John Richardson Hospital), Car Nicobar under Directorate of Health Services A & N Administration.
e-mail: dineshdentalclinic@gmail.com
To be continued…………
Nicobar Diary- A Relook into the History part -7
Dr.Dinesh
How Trading started in 1853: –
The first traders who came to Nicobar Islands for coconut were Portuguese, then English & French. There was a headman of Mus village nicknamed “friend of England” he encouraged the traders to come more often to the Island. ”You go tell all men, come here, come here, I friend of England, I good man, you bring much medicines, you give me, we will be great friends, I may return, I plenty of good man, I speak truth, I no lie”
He carried a number of chits from officers to ships who made call to the Island. Here are some of the letters of recommendation.
(A) The bearer of this friend of England is a very worthy young man. He supplied with a great quality of nuts, last voyage and can be trusted to any amount under 6000 pairs
10th March, 1853 Sd/-
R. Middlteon, Commander
off Lapathi village Barque Colonel, Brown
CarNicobar
A) This is to certify that I have traded with friend of England a native of this Island, in coconuts, fruits etc since I have found him to be trusty, honest to his agreement, therefore I feel pleasure in saying that you can trust him with the truth before heaven.
Northwest Bay Island of Car Nicobar Sd/-
March 3rd 1857 Barque Rochester of London
Master of ship.
B) On our visit to the north side of Car Nicobar. I found the bearer “friend of England” our honest in offensive man and very willing to afford all the assistance in his power to during our stay.
January 3rd, 1873 Sd/-
WLC Bareford, ommander
H.M Steamer
“Friend of England” was very old in 1901 and died in 1902. The Portuguese gave some names of villages like Malacca, Mus, Sawai, Lapathi. The English gave nicknames to headman, who could speak few Pidgin English like Sweet William, Distant Tom Toddy, Lady Clara, SM Weller, Jack Robinson, King Fisher, Young Edwin, and James Snookes & Lady Killer.
Traders introduced fruits trees to the islands like sweet lime, lemons, shaddocks, custard apples, jackfruits, pineapple villages were full of these trees upto 1900. Goats were introduced by traders.
From the beginning of the British rule the aboriginal were badly exploited by outside traders. A yard of cloth would cost 100 coconuts a bicycle cost 30,000 coconuts and people were in debt with their coconut plantations were mortgaged. Bishop with the help of first Indian Chief Commissioner of A & N Islands Mr. Majid formed a co-operative society, won the trade of the Island in the hand of Nicobarese. It is unique that bishop Richardson was the first educated person. First teacher & catechist, First priest, First Bishop, First Member Parliament for A & N Islands 1952-1957, First Padma Shree-1965, First Padma Bhusan-1974, First Honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity -1966 from Serampore College (West Bengal). He is the only Islander from Union Territory who was the recipient of both Padma Shree and Padma Bhushan awards.
Note:-Readers may ignore few grammatical mistakes this is done to keep the authenticity of the manuscripts.
• Ex- Dental Surgeon of Government Civil Hospital (now known as Bishop John Richardson Hospital), Car Nicobar under Directorate of Health Services A & N Administration. e-mail: dineshdentalclinic@gmail.com
Nicobar Diary- A Relook into the History part -5
Dr.Dinesh
John Richardson was born on June 6th 1891. In 1905 Richardson was sent to Burma to complete education in a missionary school then joined a normal school to become a qualified teacher. In 1912, after Solomen’s death, Richardson was sent back to the place of Solomen as catechist & teacher, Rev George whitehead was deputed to go with him by Bishop of Rangoon to put him on feet with his scholarly help.
When Richardson came back to the Island, majority of people did not trust him, they thought that he would exploit as traders from mainland, but he had a chance to prove it that he was not one of them. The first CAN was Mr. Hart, before his appointment he was headmaster of his school in Mandalay. He used to appoint him to act for him in his absence when on leave.
While acting for him in 1927 a riot broke out at Malacca village, when all the shops were set on fire by the villagers of Perka in revenge of ill treatment from the hands of Minicoy traders, with the help of Burmese convicts, he brought under control, for his service; he received the award of a gun and a honorary 3rd class magistrate power.
There are six dialects in the Nicobars and none of which are common to any language of the neighborhoods countries, north, south, east & west of ours. There is no mixture in our blood our forefathers loved and died in these Islands, children of soil. Their language can prove, for there is no trace of foreign language in it, they are not planted here as the original settlers of the Andamans. They were loyal and law abiding fellow citizens of the great Union Republic of India.
In 1918 Richardson learned medicine compounding in the hospital in Ross Island at Port Blair under Dr Latchman Singh. On his return to Car Nicobar he was given the charge of small dispensary, Richardson was asked to act as honorary Tehsildar in the absence of officers. 102 Christians were killed by Japanese and John Richardson was under arrest during war. When peace came John Richardson was in prison waiting execution thus he was saved by atomic bomb.
Japanese occupied all houses round the sea shore and 10000 people had to go and live in the jungle. They built road round the Island and made an airstrip so they saw first motorcar and first Aeroplane.
In 1950 Richardson was consecrated Bishop. It is entirely due to high courage of this one man that most people in Car Nicobar about 14000 is Christian today. There are 11 churches, each having seating capacity about 600 people on the floor, currency was introduced in 1946. Coconut trees were cut down mercilessly to clear large area for the construction of airfield, roads and bunkers. A jetty was built at Malacca and the Nicobarese was made to do forced labour, Japanese surrendered in1945.
Mr. BL Chak, IAS the Chief Commissioner of A & N Islands came specially to pay homage to Bishop John Richardson. In his brief speech, paid tribute to the qualities of the Bishop, all of us who are here today will always be proud to say perhaps to our children and grand children that we were present on the occasion to salute a great man, thanking the assembly he said “Rewards are not the things that prove a man to be great, by being humble towards fellowmen, utterly true to his faith and completely loyal to his country”.
• Ex-Dental Surgeon of Government Civil Hospital (now known as BJR Hospital), Car Nicobar under Directorate of Health Services A & N Administration. e-mail: dineshdentalclinic@gmail.com
Nicobar Diary -A re-look into history- part -3
Dr.Dinesh
INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC
The first epidemic influenza broke out in 1920. A man was murdered named TANOMUKUI by SON and TATCHAHKA, a women gave information which was passed to Mr. Hart the Assistant Commissioner Nicobar. The Bishop was deputed to arrest the culprits. He took with him six strong men from Mus and Malacca village. They first arrested Tatchahka in his house. Bishop was carrying a hockey stick which the man thought was a gun. He quietly submitted, son was arrested in sound sleep in his house, both were convicted and deported to Port Blair. Those days this was called devil murder (the victim was the cause of epidemic, as they believed, so he was killed).
In 1932 at Arong a man was gored by a wild bull while going to feed his pigs in the jungle. His abdomen was punctured and the small intestine came out. The Bishop tore his own baniyan, plucked tender leaves and dressed up the wound. Thus giving first aid. A rough stretcher was made and the man carried to the beach at Arong from there he and his school boys took him to Mus by canoe. They reached hospital at 3 pm, disturbing Dr. Jones who was resting. The intestine was pushed in with stitches. In a months time the man recovers.
POLIO EPIDEMIC
In September 1948 an epidemic of polio was broken out. Bishop went to Nancowrie with CAN Mr.Alvi on return it was so strange that no one came to meet us. At last a canoe came out with some Nicobarese who told us that there a bad sickness had broken out. All the RAF personnel had left the Island. The police and the doctor went to Teetop to escape from the sickness, one plane flew to Port Blair to bring doctor. Next day bishop collected more than 50 young men to construct huts for patients in the airfield others to bury the dead’s and other to go around to collect the patients from all the villages in the old Japanese trucks. Luckily there was plenty of petrol, and few drivers. Mr.Yusuf Jadwet was one of the drivers; day and night patients were admitted and dead were buried. To New Delhi SOS was sent and eight more doctors and twelve male nurses were flown in.
In 1949 two canoes from Mus village did not reach Chowra. When the Bishop got the news he went to Chukchuka to meet Mr. Yusuf and asked for the old Japanese launch, next morning at 4 a.m the search party left for Teetop and reached Batimaliv Island at 11 am, there a canoe was lying at anchor (because there was no place to land on the island). The men were on the island. One canoe was completely lost with 15 men; only one man and six children were saved from the lost one.
The search party parked 11 children and returned to Mus at 5 pm, the search party were planning to go again in the launch the next morning with supplies of food to the marooned men of 30 people but the weather worsens.
The commanding officer came to the rescue, there was one supply plane just arrived from Singapore, the Bishop accompanied the party in the plane to drop the ration for the marooned men. The first drop fell on the sea but the next five drop fell at the right place and were soon picked up by the men. The party returned to camp within 15 minutes, when weather was good again the marooned party was successfully brought back from Batimaliv Island.
Worked in Car Nicobar Island in the post of Dental Surgeon at Government Civil Hospital (now known as BJR Hospital), Car Nicobar under Directorate of Health Services A & N Administration. e-mail: dineshdentalclinic@gmail.com
Food being distributed to the needy
Dr.Dinesh
Port Blair, Apr 02: Rajasthan Manch, Port Blair has started a community kitchen service and is distributing cooked food to the people affected by lockdown for Covid-19. On 31/03/2020 almost 1000 meals were distributed at different places of the city, out of which about 400 people were served food during lunch hour and about 600 people were served dinner. The areas covered are Dollygunj, Bhatu basti, Sippighat, Junglighat, Golghar, Nayasahar, Shadipur, Mazar pahad where the migrant workers are generally staying and Pranab kanya Sangh inmates also at Delanipur.
According to the President Mr. P.L. Modi of Rajasthan Manch, the response to their initiative to feed needy people during the lockdown was overwhelming. They are gearing up to scale up their service and have successfully served 750 Lunch and 950 Dinner on 01/04/2020 with extension of areas covered including Garacharma & Minnie bay. Today around 740 were given lunch, dinner will also be served tonight. Their present plan is to continue this service till lockdown deadline. He further added that they are taking special care on hygiene & social distancing. The food is prepared at a FSSAI approved centre.
The medical officer tests negative for COVID-19
Dr.Dinesh
Port Blair, Apr 02: The first corona suspected case was brought directly from Veer Sarvarkar Airport, Port Blair, Andaman on 24/3/2020 as he complained of mild, cold and sneezing after arrival by flight after attending Tablighi Jamaat at Markaz at Banglewali Mosque in Hazart Nizamuddin, New Delhi. He was immediately shifted in a special ambulance designated only for COVID-19 suspected cases, as the Andaman & Nicobar administration was fully prepared well in advance.
Dr.Sabeela Banu, Medical Officer attended the first case as she was on duty at that point of time, she was wearing protective equipment’s like masks, gloves etc and the patient was also wearing the mask at that time when taken to OPD. No physical examination was conducted, and she maintained physical distancing, as Dr. Sabeela was much aware of the consequences. Immediately the suspected case was taken to specially created Isolation ward on 24/3/2020, after that swabs were taken and later on tested positive.
As a precautionary measure Dr.Sabeela’s throat & nasal swab was taken yesterday morning, today the COVID-19 results have come and it is negative.
Stop panic buying and loitering around unnecessarily
Dr.Dinesh
Andaman & Nicobar Islands are approximately 1300kms away from mainland. Goods reach Andaman by cargo ship from Chennai/Kolkata. The day International flights were banned from flying and thereafter domestic airlines was closed by the government, people started panic buying and started hoarding rice, dhall, salt, pickle, biscuits etc.
Residents of the islands have the experience of bad days during early 1980’s when salt, matchbox was not available for about few days, Matchboxes was sold at Rs 15/- those days due to delay in plying of ships and in 90’s when there was acute shortage of rice in Car Nicobar Island and had to be airlifted by defense aircraft.
Since flight & ship are the only mode of transportation from mainland India, there was definitely panic among the islanders. So people started panic buying essential commodities & panic buying of petrol etc. Most of the small grocery shop ran out of stock within a couple of days after the lockdown was announced by the Prime Minister, though Andaman Chamber of Commerce & Industry came out with total stock available of essential commodities in metric tons.
People who had smart phones with what’saap enabled services and who listened to the local Radio news bulletin had a sigh of relief, but the migrant workers who doesn’t have smart phone, rumors spread like wild fire and they started hoarding items with all the little savings they had.
Since the lockdown few government officials are asked to work from home, taking advantage of the situation few grocery shops/vegetable vendors/fish vendors had a gala time selling at exorbitant rates like potato @Rs50/- per kg, onion@Rs60/-, Tomato@Rs100/- per kg, eggs in whole sale market is Rs 150/- for 30 eggs, but were sold at Rs 250/-. LPG cylinders was given at Rs790/- two days back and yesterday they took Rs 900/- per cylinder. Some had complained that shopkeepers cheated on weights too, legal metrology department should look into the matter. General public had no option, because the administration had ordered complete lockdown including groceries/bakery shops/vegetable shops/private petrol bunks etc in true spirits. Only ANIIDCO petrol bunk was opened and petrol and diesel was issued to government staffs on duty & few businessman who were dealing with essential commodities. After the high court notice private petrol bunk was opened, people made a beeline as the news spread.
On the contrary cost of vegetables are cheaper in Middle Andaman like brinjal @Rs 20/-, bindi@Rs30/- per kg. In conversation over phone with an Engineer in Betapur, he said the demand is less, as most of them grow vegetables in their backyard. Petrol bunks are opened in Rangat, but it is a total waste to go from Betapur and get two liters of petrol covering almost 40 kms to and fro, that itself consumes one litre. Essential commodities are rationed through ration card holders from PDS shops to avoid hoarding. There is scarcity of sugar in grocery shops, people are managing with whatever little they have. Some have started making jaggery tea, as milk is abundantly available there.
People are obeying the lock down and even physical distancing is maintained as the population density in the area is less in Middle Andaman, goods which are being transported from Port Blair some times gets exhausted at Rangat itself, goods are transported upto Diglipur in trucks after the administration gave some relaxation, as of now there is no shortage of food items.
Coming to southern group of Islands even in normal times there is always some shortage of essential commodities in Car Nicobar, Katchal, Chowra, Teressa, Kamorta, Pillowmillow, Pilpillow, Great Nicobar Islands so it is the human tendency to hoard essential items, but people are managing with bare minimum. As soon as the news of cargo plane landing at Port Blair with essential commodities, medicines & PPE’s general public had a sigh of relief. Now public is not coming out of their houses unless it is absolutely necessary as police personnel are constantly patrolling and doing announcements to stay at home.
The medical officer who attended the first corona case in Andaman Islands
Dr.Dinesh
The first corona suspected case was brought directly from Veer Sarvarkar Airport, Port Blair, Andaman on 24/3/2020 as he complained of mild, cold and sneezing after arrival by flight after attending Tablighi Jamaat at Markaz at Banglewali Mosque in Hazart Nizamuddin, New Delhi. He was immediately shifted in an special ambulance designated only for COVID-19 suspected cases, as the Andaman & Nicobar administration was fully prepared well in advance in January itself and after a series of State Level Advisory Committee meeting with high level officers of the administration, in the early week of February itself and it was published in the local daily “The Daily Telegrams” and other newspapers, since the news of corona deaths reported Whuhan, Italy, Iran, Spain etc. in the media.
Dr.Sabeela Banu, Medical Officer attended the first case as she was on duty at that point of time, she was wearing protective equipment’s like masks, gloves etc and the patient was also wearing the mask at that time when taken to OPD. No physical examination was conducted, and she maintained physical distancing, as Dr. Sabeela was much aware of the consequences. Immediately the suspected case was taken to specially created Isolation ward on 24/3/2020, after that swabs were taken and later on tested positive.
On 25/3/2020 medical officer was off duty. The supporting staff like ambulance driver and other paramedics who had come in the special ambulance their investigation was done and all the reports are negative.
Dr.Sabeela’s throat & nasal swab was taken today morning as she was off duty yesterday, she is home quarantined since then. She is perfectly fine as of now and she is waiting for COVID-19 results which is expected soon.
Protect Doctors, paramedics & sanitation workers
Dr.Dinesh
Since we have got ten confirmed covid19 cases in Andaman’s and has been kept in isolation ward in GB Pant Hospital, the main concern is that we have is to protect our paramedic and doctors with utmost importance and see that they adhere to the strictest standard protocol while dealing with the patients. Fumigation should be done along the corridors to sanitize the area. They shouldn’t be negligent and all the paramedics & Doctors should wear PPE’s so that they don’t get infected and pass on the infection to their family members or relatives. Doctors and paramedics needs rest, emotional and family support. The main concern is that the healthcare professionals are at the highest risk of getting infected. Many professionals around the world have lost their lives while treating patients. Healthcare professionals are already stressed & anxious due to the current situation. Despite the rising number of cases, most of them who contract the virus suffer only mild symptoms and recover completely.
Andaman & Nicobar Islands has the privilege of large government hospitals, CHC, PHC’s in almost all the Islands and medical college as well with well spaced beds. All it needs is sufficient oxygen cylinders and suction. Tele-consultation, by A & N Islands Private Practicing Doctors Association are done to few cases during the lockdown period, and from today most of the Hospitals and clinic have opened, so that the burden in Government G.B Pant Hospital is relatively low. The battle ground will now shift from houses & streets to hospitals and ICUs if the cases increases and may require private hospitals in the municipal area to accommodate them. This tough battle can only be won by the young doctors and nurses. This battle cannot be fought by senior doctors, nurses, paramedics who are above the age of 55 years or more because Covid 19 is dangerous for them as they may have diabetes, hypertension and age related diseases and they may be prone to infection. Staff nurses & paramedics can be engaged on contract basis to handle the isolation wards dedicated staff with PPE’s only to handle COVID19 cases and they should not be allowed to do duty in other wards. Sufficient PPE kits might have arrived by todays cargo plane. Disposable plates & glasses for the inpatients were donated by the generous staff.
Investigation area should be sanitized especially the X-ray department, pathological lab, waiting area when the suspected corona patients are taken there. All suspected cases should be viewed, as seriously during the time of investigation as a positive case until their test reports are negative. Public should refrain from ordering Chinese products through Amazon or flip kart, or through other online stores for atleast six months. Hope that all patients recovers and discharged from the hospital, and again a re-test conducted after 14 days to confirm they are negative, sufficient PPE’s should be made available at the earliest so that we don’t fall short of the kits and should be prepared for any eventuality if ever the cases increases, stay home and be safe, these are challenging times, keep cool and don’t hoard essential commodities, eat less, exercise, do some household chores, keep busy, listen to music or engage in your hobbies, don’t spread rumors, keep physical distancing, connect socially, and listen to the government advisories and abide by the orders. General public volunteers can be engaged for mass publicity, awareness as well as for physical distancing in front of essential commodities stores, when the situation warrants, though police department is doing their bit by way of announcement asking people to stay at home.
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