Despite the State government spending crores on the equipments and COVID19 related purchases, there seem to be no respite from mortalities and basic needs are not looked into by the authorities.
Here is a heart-wrenching story of a common man Keshav Shetye, whose mother died at the Goa Medical College (GMC) for want of Oxygen.
While his mother was gasping fro breath, the doctors were awaiting the COVID19 report even as there were no oxygen cylinders left in the GMC.
“Trust me I have lost my mother Lata Shetye on 6/9/2020 and it should not happen to any one,” he wrote on his Facebook handle.
Shetye said that his mom had co-morbidities of diabetes and kidney problem and was being treated at Redker hospital for long time.
“On September 4, she felt comfortable and weakness we took her to Redker hospital. Doctors found her sugar levels to be very low, which were brought under control. On 5th September morning she was quite okay but by evening started feeling uncomfortable and later had little fever. While suggesting COVID19 test, doctor shifted her to the ICU with oxygen supply,” Shetye said sharing the sequence of events.
However, the next day doctor informed that creatine had increased and her scan report showed lung infection.
“Doctor advised us to shift her to GMC. as it could be COVID19 infection but after reaching GMC we had a horrible experience,” he said.
He said that In the GMC casualty there was not a single oxygen cylinder.
“Two oxygen cylinders connected one after another were found to be empty. Finally she was given supply of fix oxygen in casualty. At 9:15 pm they managed a half cylinder and she was shifted to COVID ward without doing covid test,” Shetye says.
He said the cylinder finished soon but the doctors came and took her samples for COVID19 test.
“There was no oxygen anymore and she died,” he said questioning “Why did doctors want to do COVID test when she was breathless and after death running around with artificial respiratory just to show off they were doing something? When she really required attention no doctors came,” he wrote.
Their misery did not end there, Shetye’s mother died at 10:15 pm on Sunday and the inhuman attitude of the staff continued.
“We were told that we will get the body after COVID test report comes. Which will take 12 to 18 hrs. (That was ok) but her body was not shifted to mortuary till 1:30 am night on 7th September that’s Monday. Me and both of my brothers were standing in COVID ward requesting to shift body in mortuary from 10:15 pm to 1:30 night, the doctors and staff were giving silly reason of no manpower,” he explained.
Finally, he said, at 1:30 am two of the staff with PPE and we three brothers without PPE shifted body to mortuary.
“I only want to highlight the actual situation at GMC. An what fancy advertising they are doing to cheat people. I would have been happy if my mother would have died at homestead of so much suffering,” he said.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane when questioned on oxygen availability said, “there was no shortage of oxygen in any hospitals.”