Govt aims to distribute 5,000 isolation kits in a week

PANAJI

The State Health Minister on Monday announced that the department aims to distribute home isolation kits to 5,000 patients in a week's time. 

The minister made the announcement after chairing a virtual meeting pf all the Health Officers from Urban Health Centres and Primary Healrh Centres in the presence of Health Secretary Amit Satija, Director DHS Dr Jose D'Sa, Dean of Goa Medical College and Hospital Dr S M Bandekar, Under Secretary Trupti Manerkar and Swati Dalvi, Joint Secretar (Health) Ajit Pauskar, FDA Director Jyoti Sardessai, State Epidemiologist Dr Utkarsh Betodkar and Dr Kedar Raikar.

During the meeting, the department finalised the SOPs and protocols for the distribution of home isolation kits and shared these with the health officers for seamless distribution and effective use.

As per the protocols, each kit will be numbered to monitor the stock and kit distribution. Health officers will issue prescription to patients receiving the kit for Doxycycline and Ivermectin tablets. Daily records of home isolation patients to be signed by respective health officer at PHCs. SOPs will be drawn for taking CT Scan and Xray of home isolation patients. 

For critical patients, elderly or co-morbid patients, CT scan and X-ray will be carried out in advance. 

In addition to this, patients above 50 years of age, who are under home isolation,  will be monitored thrice a day by ANMs and MPHWs and special attention will be given to them by senior doctors.

Meanwhile, it was disclosed that a few Cpvid Care centres will remain active to reduce the burden on GMC. Similarly, the South Goa District Hospitals will have ICU and ITUs to share the load. 

He also declared that digitization of patients vital data is being taken up in an extensive way so that any gradual or sudden fall can be red alerted and referred to the health officer immediately for quick medical action.