Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Aug 24: In yet another shocking development a team of health department has tested four more members of Great Andamanese Tribes positive yesterday at Strait Island.

The tests were carried out when a team of health department was sent to Strait Island yesterday to check the spread of COVID19 among the tribes after six other members of Great Andamanese Tribes were tested positive at Port Blair nearly two weeks back.

The team reportedly tested 37 samples and out of 37, four members of Great Andamanese Tribes were found positive.

Presently all positive people have been kept in isolation in Strait Island itself.

 

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.

 

Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Aug 20: The Health Department is now planning to shift the COVID19 Isolation ward next to the Operation Theater (OT) Room to ensure that the patients, who require Oxygen support, can get continuous and centralised support of Oxygen and there is no requirement of changing cylinders, sources in Health Department informed.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha about treatment of COVID19 patients a senior officer said that Remdesivir drug is being given to serious COVID19 patients and the Doctors are getting good results. Although it is not a miracle drug but it can save 30 to 40 percent of serious patients, he said.
“We are also bringing 1000 doses of Inj Tocilizumab and testing for levels of inflammatory marker D-Dimer and Ferritin test to be added,” he mentioned.
The Senior Officer informed that 5000 new Rapid Test Kits have arrived Port Blair today and now the kits will be used at Airport and Inter-Island Ports. Regarding more Rapid Test Kits, he said that nearly 15,000 more Rapid Test kits might arrive by next week.
The Senior Health Officer said that the COVID19 spread is coming under control now and after opening of lockdown, general public has to behave responsibly.

 

Sarthak Kanjilall

Port Blair, August 19: The Branch Representative of National Union of Seafarers of India, Mr. Dharvinder Ram has threatened the Directorate of Shipping Services and Shipping Corporation of India of filing litigation against them if the on-duty Corona affected seafarers, who were issued the sign-off status are not considered as Corona Warriors and are not paid with the entire wage benefits according to their agreement.

In a mail addressed to the senior officers of Directorate of Shipping Services and Shipping Corporation of India, Mr. Ram stated that the Seafarers did not bring the infection from shore.

“The infection was brought on board by the passengers, workshop crew, cleaning workers, Port labors, provision suppliers, et cetera. due to non-compliance with SOPs and DG Shipping guidelines, the Seafarers have sacrificed their family life and risked their lives considering as professional hazard, for operating passenger, transshipment, which is the lifeline of Andaman and Nicobar Islands,” Mr. Ram stated.

Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Aug 17: A Head Constable reportedly died at Narcondum Island today following complaints of high fever and weakness. As per reports, an SOS message was passed to PHQ in the morning and efforts were made to coordinate with the Coast Guard to evacuate the sick Head Constable but due to delay the Head Constable died at Narcondum Island. The Head Constable was nearly 58 years old.
One wonders when the Police Department is sending even senior police staffs to such difficult duties why timely evacuation is not ensured during such a crisis situation.
Andaman Sheekha tried to contact the DGP over message on this issue but a reply could not be obtained yet.
Andaman Sheekha had earlier in previous issues had highlighted that such difficult posts must be handed over to defence forces as for every movement, the police department has to request the defence forces, which takes too much time. If at all Police Department is over enthusiastic in keeping such posts with the department then safety of Police Staffs must be ensured by the department and a helicopter must be kept standby all the time for police jawans going to such remote Island for performing duties.

Port Blair, August 16: Mr. Surendra Prahladika, the President, Andaman Chamber of Commerce and Industry has urged the Pharma Shop owners of the Islands to sell the medicines, masks, hand gloves, sanitizers, oximeters, and other necessary things to the customers at the lowest possible price as part of a moral responsibility in the fight against the COVID19 virus.

“It is the moral responsibility of all to support each other in this situation, he urged all to stay home and stay home,” Mr. Prahladika urged the islanders in an interview to RNU, Port Blair.

It was Dr. Jijith Rekh, the spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janta Party, Andaman, and Nicobar Unit who first highlighted the issue in his tweet that some pharmaceutical shop owners are charging exorbitant rates from people purchasing oximeters.

Talking to Andaman Sheekha, Mr. Rekh said that the oximeter that he purchased online cost him Rs. 890 and the same oximeter purchased by one of his friends from a local Pharmacy here in these Islands, cost Rs. 3200.

“I am not asking the Pharma Shop owners to do any kind of charity, at the same time they must not loot public as well, at this time of the pandemic, oximeters are very necessary and if everyone supports one another, we can overcome the situation,” said Dr. Rekh.

 

Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Aug 12: Nearly 36 staffs of MV Chowra ship out of total 48 have been reportedly tested positive on 6th August 2020 but till now neither their RT-PCR tests have been conducted nor they have been given proper medicines.
According to reports some medicines were supplied to them soon after they were detected positive in Rapid Test Kits but those medicines were grossly inadequate for all 36, infected with COVID19.
Adding to the plight the vessel, which was berthed at Haddo for five days, has now been sent to anchorage. This means that in case of urgent medical need it will be impossible to get help on time.
Meanwhile, today the Chief Cook of the vessel complained breathlessness and finally after great efforts he was evacuated by a small boat to Chatham and from Chatham he was taken to the G B Pant Hospital for treatment. The Chief Cook is nearly 58 year old.
As the crew members do not have sufficient medicines, the young crew members are giving their medicines to the old crew members for the sake of humanity.
Off late many cases are reported in Andaman where patients complaining about breathlessness, are dying before reaching hospital. Considering this one wonders whether keeping the COVID19 positive crew inside the ship is a wise decision. Many are now demanding immediate RTPCR test of all crew to confirm who all are actually COVID19 positive.