Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Jul 27: Former MLC Ivan D Souza said that there is a shortage of ventilators in the hospitals and urged the district administration to make arrangements as per the requirement.
Addressing the media here on Monday July 27, Ivan D'Souza said, "Government should take necessary steps to provide best treatment to tackle COVID-19. District lacks ventilators, in one of the private hospitals there are six ventilators while in Wenlock all the ventilators are occupied. The district administration should take necessary steps in arranging ventilators for the hospitals.
He suggested that the city corporation should keep at least ten ambulances ready for the service of the people during this Covid situation. "There are instances where the patient's family had to hire a private hospital ambulance. The charges are high and unaffordable for the poor, therefore, the city corporation must keep at least ten ambulances ready," he said.
He said that in one of the hospitals in Belgaum, as per the circular charges are up to 35,000 to 75,000 per day which a poor cannot afford and stated that there is no control of the rate and demanded that the health minister should look into the matter.
"There have been eight to ten deaths daily, a team had come to investigate the deaths but where is the report? They must show the report," Ivan claimed.
"Even for funerals several restrictions are placed and no one is allowed to see the body. This contradicts the union government guidelines which states with regard to crematorium and burial ground that viewing of the body by unzipping the face end by the staff using standard precautions may be allowed for the relatives to see the body one last time. All the doctors say that there is no need to fear as Covid virus does not spread after death. If there is so much of fear, the government can bring changes in the protocol," Ivan said.
He said that the district congress committee has formed a helpline to tackle Covid. "A committee has been formed consisting 50 members, at the same time the committee will be creating awareness among the public regarding Covid," Ivan said.
Former mayor Shashidhar Hegde, Kavitha Sanil and others were present.