An epidemic affecting a very large number
of people worldwide which thus assumes a global concern requires medical
professionals to address it. This is a matter of simple logic which does not
require much of deliberation. With allegations of inefficiency describing the
government’s containment efforts, it was pandemonium all around.
A handful of politicians and bureaucrats
cannot - and should not - decide the course of the ‘remedial recourse’ for the
state when it comes to a catastrophe of this magnitude! The pandemic is not an
issue that can be hijacked by a political dispensation!
A health scare necessitates the involvement
of medical professionals who, in such a situation, are the most competent to
allay fears in the public mind and most importantly, are capable of moderating
the spread of the virus. Without appropriate ‘medical intervention’, the
government cannot aspire to bring down the ever mounting cases of infections
and fatalities.
Hence the decision by the state health
ministry in Goa to introduce sweeping structural changes in the functioning of
COVID hospital at Margao could well be seen as a re-orientation of the state’s
COVID-management programme which has otherwise left a lot to be desired. Providing
the necessary logistics required and monitoring the overall situation in the
state, the government now has the onerous task of effectively managing the fight
back.
The very fact that the government has
realized its follies and intends taking corrective measures to neutralize the
virulent charge of the rampaging virus in the state is indeed reassuring!
First and foremost, the move to virtually
bring the COVID-19 hospital in Margao under the direct control, supervision and
management of the Goa Medical College and Hospital at Bambolim needs to be
lauded for the seriousness of the government’s intentions.
The formation of a six-member committee
comprising of government and private physicians to decide the protocols of
treatment at the COVID-19 hospital in Margao is another praiseworthy step.
The decision to have a senior consultant to
act as a nodal officer for protocol recommended by the ‘treatment protocol
committee’ in addition to liaisoning with district collectors and other
administrative officers assigned COVID-management duties too comes at the right
time.
Besides the creation of a ‘high dependency
unit’ in a bid to tackle fatalities, the manpower requirement and deployment at
the COVID-hospital which is to be manned by a three-member committee comprising
of the GMCH Dean, the Director of Health Services and the ESI-hospital
in-charge shows that the government has had a definite re-think on its strategy
for combating the disease in the state.
It can now safely withdraw into the
‘war-room’ pouring over its tactics and re-laying its strategic considerations
vis-à-vis the epic battle with the virus confident about an efficient team of
professionals tending to the ‘rescue and recovery’ efforts at Ground
Zero.
Now that the government has formulated a
new policy to combat the coronavirus disease in the state by delegating the
maximum responsibility to the medical fraternity and concerning itself purely
with a supportive role that largely calls for logistic assistance and the
administrative rigmarole that goes with it in this endeavour, one can be sure
that the change of strategy will have a telling effect and definitely ensure a
gradual control over the deteriorating COVID-scenario in Goa.
This however comes as an apt opportunity
for the government to engage the village panchayats more actively in the fight
against the viral disease. In fact, way back in April, the Union government had
asked village panchayats across the country to play an active role in
staunching the spread of the coronavirus disease.
As the first point of contact for
villagers, the panchas are familiar with the specific problems of each
household. Moreover communities that comprise the local populace trust them.
Therefore they have to shoulder significant responsibilities beyond just
providing relief during the pandemic.
The elected members of the local
self-governing bodies are better placed to identify sensitive areas in their
jurisdiction and take the necessary steps to contain the spread of COVID while
adhering to the standard operating procedures. Reporting suspected cases that
surface sporadically in their wards, they can ably aid the health authorities
to test, track and help in the treatment of those affected.
The village panchayats could prove to be
that arm of the government assisting it in tackling the COVID-related problems
of the populace at the grassroots level. Barring a few panchayats, most of the
others in the state have so far been conspicuous by their ‘remarkable
unresponsiveness’ during the crisis. The villagers have had much to complain
about their indifferent attitude during the lockdown.
Despite the administration’s assurances of
the delivery of essential provisions and food items at their doorsteps during
the ‘enforced internment’, people experienced a really harrowing time then.
Even today, many of the residents are not
aware about the free distribution of the prophylactic medicines by the
concerned panchayats. Furthermore, home-quarantine as the most essential aspect
of the battle against COVID in the state has unfortunately not been given the
due consideration it demands. In fact, it has been a directive irregularly
enforced and constantly defied.
With the easing of restrictions on those
wishing to return home, the need for isolation to prevent the spread of the
virus assumes greater importance. As is being done in Kerala, village
panchayats could take the initiative to set up local quarantine centres with
facilities such as food, drinking water and toilets.
While those mandated a fixed period in
quarantine due to the risks involved to others owing to their close proximity
to those infected at home and workplace have been rather flippant about the
advise; village panchayats could well be directed to clamp down on such wilful
defaulters and ensure that the health advisory is followed in totality. But
unfortunately, except for a few noble attempts, it has been a very dismal
approach by the panchayats in Goa. Let us not forget that only a collective
effort will see us through these difficult times!
(Published
on 17th August 2020, Volume XXXII, Issue 34)
