Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB/SP)

Udupi, Apr 29: The number of people coming under the grip of coronavirus has been increasing in the district with each passing day. The chances of the daily figure crossing a thousand do not appear to be far. The district administration has made elaborate arrangements to tackle COVID situation. Still, at the onset of the second wave of the infection, all the intensive care unit beds are full. Hospitals are not responding as per expectations. Ambulance facilities are not available in many cases. One of the suspicions which have taken root in the minds of the people is whether the private hospitals have created artificial scarcity of beds to encash the increasing coronavirus positive cases.

The people are becoming panicky at the prospect of not getting ventilator beds in case of emergencies.

Most of the educated people are able to get the facilities needed by using influence or contacts. But poor people or those who do not have preliminary knowledge of the disease, are struggling to get treatment. The district administration and health department need to work on this issue with more care, concerns and diligence.

Prima facie, as compared to the last year, and going by the facilities extended then to the patients and the people suspected of having the infection, this time it appears that the preparations are lacking. It seems the concerned have not taken the issue seriously enough. Last year, as soon as COVID wave surfaced, isolation wards were set up in private hospitals but this time people who are asymptomatic are prescribed home isolation.

KMC Manipal, which is a renowned hospital and T M A Pai Hospital too are going through the same problem. Intensive care unit admissions are increasing. Hospital sources say that additional beds are being arranged. As per official information, some hospitals in Udupi have earmarked 50 percent of beds for coronavirus infected people. Still, there is a shortage of ICU beds. This alerts us about the seriousness of the issue.

District hospital sources say that 3,000 litres of oxygen has been filled in the plant which is used for treating the COVID patients. It cannot be supplied outside. The refilling plant at Belapu has not yet become functional. The district hospital has 60 isolation beds. Supply of medicines for COVID patients is a problem but the hospital is taking care to see that the patients are not deprived of any facility.

Deputy commissioner (DC) G Jagadeesha, says that there is no shortage of beds in Udupi. He says that as against 900 oxygen beds available, only a hundred are full. He said that in emergencies, beds in private hospitals can only be obtained through the district health department. If the patients directly contact private hospitals, they may not get beds. He said that there is no shortage of PPE kits. He asserted that the district administration will ensure that there is no shortage of PPE kits and sought support of the people to control spread of the disease.

People wanting to have information about COVID symptoms, health problems, beds, ventilators, hospitals, medicine, ambulance etc can contact helplines (Helpline Nos. 9663950222, 9663957222 and Ambulance No. 108) of the district administration which are functioning directly under the district health officer and nodal officer.

Several concerns have come forward to provide oxygen-enabled ambulance services. Former MLA Pramod Madhwaraj, has requested the people not to use ambulances to transport the mortal remains of the deceased as far as possible, to see that there is no shortfall in ambulance service to patients.