THE SUNDAY ISLANDER

By Staff Reporter, The Sunday Islander

GB Pant Hospital, the only Covid Designated Hospital in our islands is quickly turning into a death trap. Not only for patients, but also the doctors and health workers. As of 08/08/20, it is determined that 18 doctors have tested positive for the virus. Yet, little help comes our way.

Banging thalis and lighting diyas on windowsills amount to little when the state of our frontline Covid warriors are ignored and allowed to disintegrate. The condition of the hospital is appalling. Those who give the test have to wait for more than 8 days before their results come back. By the 8th day, patients with severe cases (15% according to Chinese CDC) develop Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), an illness that occurs when fluids build up in the lungs. ARDS is often fatal.

To quote 64-yr old Dr MK Mahato, serving at GB Panth hospital for 35 years, “By the time the decision comes for my treatment, I will be residing in my heavenly abode..my body will lie in a trolley in front of the OPD corridor. Cause of death will be like malaria or dengue etc.”

Dr Mahato is a General Duty Medical Officer of GBPH’s Out Patient Department. And this is how he is treated. What hope have we? He implores, “After 35 years of service to these Islands, do I deserve such treatment? If after 4 days of the test, the report is not received, what's the point of doing the test?”

By the time most patients get their results, the virus has already taken its toll. Covid positive patients are committing suicide in the isolation wards; while others go there only to get infected with a virus that is outrunning and outwitting our administration.

Dr Mahato is 1 out of the 18 doctors of Directorate of Health Services and ANIIMS that have contracted the novel Corona Virus. The most serious question here is that most of these doctors continue to works after their first signs and symptoms and even after giving their tests because there is no confirmation to whether of not they have it. Thus infecting many other patients every day.

To track back Dr Mahato’s woes which he has written as a plea in a post, “From 31st July 2020 I developed myalgia, fever and very severe dry cough. I went to duty but couldn't carry on, had to come back home.

On the 3rd August 2020 I gave sample for Covid testing. And till today 08/08/20) I haven't received my report despite so many phone calls and messages to the concerned person. The staff at the Deputy Director of Health office tell me it hasn't come. Nobody has an update about it.

I am told that the reports come to Dr Tapas Dakua, but he doesn't have the courtesy to reply back to calls or messages of a sick senior doctor. Today is my 7 th or 8th day of illness. Tonight if I develop breathing difficulty or hypoxia where am I supposed to go? I will not be admitted on routine ICU because I have Influenza like Illness symptoms; and I won't be admitted even in Covid care because I am not declared Covid-19 positive.” In the letter he expresses his fear that by the time his treatment gets sanctioned, it may be too late. He ends the post asking, “Is this fair?”

Dr Mahato got his report today and he has tested positive, and it’s learnt that he is being shifted to Covid Care Centre.