Goa: Cansaulim facility helps avert deaths

VASCO: The Cansaulim Primary Health Centre (PHC), which was converted into a step-up Covid centre 10 days ago, has seen 49 admissions so far. The 50-bedded facility caters to patients with comorbid conditions and ensures that their condition remains stable.
Health officer of Cansaulim PHC Dr Soccour Quadros said that in the past 11 days, since the step-up facility was set up, no Covid patient with comorbidities has died. “The hospital does not have ventilators and so we admit Covid-19 positive patients with comorbidities with normal oxygen levels,” he said.
It has 17 oxygen cylinders and four oxygen concentrators. “We admit patients from nearby areas i.e. Cortalim constituency, but also those from other areas on call. Patients with diabetes, or fever for 6-7 days, who have tested positive, are admitted here. Sometimes patients are referred from other hospitals,” Quadros said.
The Verna Industrial Estate, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, has helped the hospital with free supply of medicines.
From May 10, since the hospital commenced operations as a step-up Covid Care Centre it has had 49 admissions in all. Of these, 25 have been discharged after recovery. Ten have been referred to other hospitals like ESI, Margao or Goa Medical College for further treatment.
At present, as of Thursday, only 11 are undergoing treatment at the Cansaulim centre, including two children.
Meanwhile, the newly constructed Cansaulim PHC also provides general OPD facilities to villagers. In the basement area, they carry out antigen and RT-PCR tests to detect Covid. The first and the second floors are dedicated to Covid-19 patients.