Jolly Says Andaman Islands is Heading Towards a Catastrophe, Invites Attention of Central Government
Port Blair, Aug 17: “It is extremely sad to see fellow islanders suffering badly due to utter negligence in handling of Covid-19 situation in the islands. During lockdown the islands were in green zone with zero cases, but due to sheer mismanagement, as on date, the islands cases confirmed per million (5808.6) stands at thrice the national count (1944). With an average growth rate of 10.1% in the last one week and case fatality ratio of 1% the situation in the islands is heading towards a catastrophe needing immediate attention of the central government”, wrote Vishal Jolly, Former State President, BJP and Member Home Ministry Advisory Committee in a letter to the Prime Minister, with copies to the Home Minister, Health Minister and others.
Jolly further wrote, “The A & N Administration since beginning neither allowed anyone other than a handful of its officials nor paid any heed to suggestions put forth by public representatives, elected representatives or political parties. We earlier suggested meeting of State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) be called involving the elected representatives such as three tier PRI/Municipal Council/MP/ExMP/Heads of Political Parties and those officers (including retired officers) who rendered yeoman service during the 2004 Earthquake-Tsunami, to chalk out a plan of action, but the suggestion was not taken and consequently, the results are before us”.
“As a responsible political party, the state unit of Bharatiya Janata Party on many occasions suggested that all incoming travellers must be sent to institutional quarantine. Not only BJP, members of the civil society, several other stakeholders including political parties suggested the same, but the Administration did not pay any heed to those suggestions. In the name of screening, body temperatures were recorded at the point of entry and the incoming travelers were allowed to proceed to their destination consequently we have cases reported from all parts of Andaman as well as far flung Nicobar group of islands.
“Not only public, even government officials and frontline workers are the most affected. Office of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate South Andaman, part of District Magistrate’s office, office of the Tehsildar Port Blair, few wards of G.B. Pant Hospital, District & Sessions Court, Civil Supplies Department. The faulty decision making is all but prevalent in the case of the islands one and only referral G. B. Pant Hospital designated as Covid Care Centre. Result is patients suffering from usual diseases/illness are getting infected. Large number of frontline warriors including the Director of Health Services, Nodal Officer of Covid-19 and a large number of health care professionals has tested positive. On one hand we are staring at suspected community level spread, on the other hand, doctors and health care professionals are getting infected. Thus the only referral hospital is now out of bounds”.
Under such a compelling circumstance Vishal Jolly has requested the Prime Minister for the following:
a.) IMMEDIATE DEPLOYMENT OF A CENTRAL TEAM OF EXPERT DOCTORS & PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERT TO COMBAT & CONTAIN THE SPREAD OF COVID-19:-
In this regard it is submitted that from the past around ten days, we have been witnessing a huge surge in the confirmed Corona positive cases which is seriously worrisome and alarming. We were given to understand that an order was issued in this regard by the MoH&FW but the team of experts is yet to arrive. The Islands lack specialised infrastructure in terms of medical facilities and almost all the beds in Hospitals are getting full with their respective capacity. It has been informed that there is no Medical Expert in IPC i.e. Infection, Prevention and Control. Furthermore, there is no Expert in Public Health in our Islands who could handle the situation. From the current case load, it appears there is community spread at the moment in our Islands and the Islanders are genuinely getting panicked. Considering the aforementioned facts & circumstances, I humbly request your goodself to kindly deploy a central team of Doctors, Experts in IPC, Public Health and other specialised frontline warriors/physicians to combat & contain the spread of COVID-19, at the earliest.
b.) SEPARATE WARDS FOR PATIENTS WITH DEIBATES, RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS, HEART AILMENTS, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE etc at CHC/District hospitals :-
It has been observed that patients having respiratory infections, heart ailments, diabetics and high blood pressure are prone to get infected easily and the fatality rate is higher among them. Hence, as a matter of precaution, separate wards be immediately set up for patients suffering from these ailments/diseases in CHC’s/district hospitals.
c.) TEST TO BE CONDUCTED AT EACH AND EVERY PLACES THROUGH MOBILE VAN:-
As per information available the current testing capacity is around 300 tests per day, which is inadequate and needs to be ramped up immediately. Also due to limited testing capacity, the results are taking more than weeks to arrive. As the cases have increased manifold in the past around 10 days, the Administration must increase the testing capacity and conduct tests at each and every village through mobile vans.
d.) COVID RELATED MEDICINES, EQUIPMENTS AND OTHER MATERIALS BE PROCURED AND TRANSPORTED TO THE ISLANDS IMMEDIATELY:-
It has been reported that there is huge shortage of medicines, equipments and other materials in our Islands and hence all such materials, medicines and equipments be immediately procured, brought and distributed. It has also been brought to my knowledge that large numbers of medicines and sanitizers have been procured and the same has been kept without utilizing. Many medicines which are actually not required for treatment of Covid-19 patients were also reportedly procured therefore the same are kept unutilized.
e.) TESTING BE PERMITTED IN PRIVATE HOPITALS, LABS & CLINICS:-
Long queues are witnessed in front of Covid Testing Unit at Netaji Stadium complex. People who are required to be tested are made to suffer in long queues. Therefore, it is imperative to authorise private testing labs, clinics and hospitals to start testing on war footing. This way, the burden over Govt testing unit will get reduced to some extent and the backlog at ICMRRMRC could be reduced. Results will be fast.
f.) GROUND STRATEGY TO CONTAIN THE DISEASE
Ambulance services need to be enhanced so that it is available readily. Govt buses/vehicles etc can be turned into ambulances for emergency requirements. Patients asked to undergo home quarantine, must be regularly given required medicines through home delivery.
g.) SUPPLY OF ESSENTIAL ITEMS IN CONTAINMENT ZONES
Essential commodities must be regularly supplied in containment zones through volunteers who need to be given permission to supply essentials in containment zones.
h.) STRICT HOME & INSTITUTIONAL QUARANTINE
All travellers must be asked to compulsory go for institutional quarantine from the point of entry itself. The Administration need to bear the cost of such quarantine since it is the duty of the state to protect and provide good health to its citizens. If at all home quarantine is being asked for, proper monitoring must be done to ensure rules are followed.
i.) BURIAL/CREMATION
Services of Mortuary van must be increased. Due to lack of it, many a times dead bodies are kept lying and aren't taken for funeral at the proper time. This un-necessarily creates rukus at the mortuary.
j.) SANITIZATION
All public places such as markets, bus terminus, offices, hospitals etc needs to be sanitized regularly on day to day basis. There has been no effort to sanitise the islands specially rural areas. This needs to be looked into urgently and efforts must be made to sanitize public places on urgent basis.
In view of the facts and circumstances as contemplated herein above, I request your goodself to take appropriate & necessary steps and also direct/instruct the A & N Administration to act accordingly.