Kolhapur: Villagers of ‘Sainik’ Girgaon unite to set up 100-bed Covid care centre

KOLHAPUR: The inhabitants of ‘Sainik’ Girgaon, a small village in Karveer taluka of Kolhapur district, have started a 100-bed Covid care centre in a school on their own, rather than waiting for politicians or the authorities concerned to take the initiative.
The villagers swung into action after around six people, including a Kargil war hero, died in the last two weeks. It was inaugurated on Friday.

“The facility does not have oxygen or ICU beds. Many ex-Armymen have contributed Rs 1,000 each to set up oxygen concentrators,” Rupesh Patil, a villager and district president of Sambhaji Brigade, told TOI on Saturday.

The village, with a population of around 4,000, has a large number ex-servicemen and many serving in the Army, due to which it is called Sainik Girgaon.
“We sought guidance from the district health officer for starting the Covid care centre. After taking permission from the authorities of Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Ashramshala, some renovation work was carried out and the facility established,” said Patil.
Villagers unite to set up centre
The death of the Kargil war veteran due to lack of oxygen supply in a hospital in Kolhapur and expensive treatment in the city catapulted the villagers into action.

“There was no covid care facility in the village. Around six people died in the village in the last two weeks as they avoided moving to hospitals in Kolhapur city due to the fear of hefty bills,” he said. Patil said the new facility in the village will also be available for people from outside Girgaon. “Ten days of treatment, isolation and food will be given to the patients free of cost at the facility. Mind and laughter therapy sessions will also be conducted daily. A full-time nursing facility will be provided along with visiting doctors.”
District medical officer Yogesh Sale said the facility will be like an institutional quarantine centre for asymptomatic Covid patients and those with mild symptoms. “Many such centres are being set up by local self governing bodies so that villagers get first hand treatment,” said Sale. The district administration will provide technical and medicinal help related to doctors and nurses as and when required. However, the remaining things are to be taken care of by local self governing bodies. The administration has started Covid care centres at the taluka levels, where all types of beds have been made available.