Maharashtra: Raigad begins fervent prep for third wave of Covid-19

Raigad Collector Nidhi Choudhari at K E S C H Keluskar Homoeopathic Medical College in Alibaug

With the number of Covid-19 cases going down, the Raigad district has started preparing for the third wave keeping paediatric patients in mind based on inputs given by experts. It is believed that the third wave is largely going to hit children and those in the tribal areas.

A meeting was recently held between the district administration and doctors to prepare separate paediatric Covid-19 wards and a special task force has been set up to make necessary arrangements.

"We have advised doctors about the possibility of children, pregnant women, tribals and people in far-off areas being affected," said Raigad Collector Nidhi Choudhari. In Raigad, so far, 11,601 children below 18 years have been infected with Covid-19. Of these, 217 are below one year.

"We are setting up a paediatric task force for our district and for Panvel Municipal Corporation. Paediatric wards will also be created in Alibaug, Mangaon and Panvel. Private hospitals like MGM, Lifeline hospital, Suasth hospital, etc. are creating separate Covid-19 paediatric facilities," Choudhari added.

Also Read: Maharashtra: Why Raigad never faced oxygen shortage

It has also been decided to train nurses and paramedics about the Indian Council of Medical Research's (ICMR) treatment protocol for children and paediatric medical equipment from the District Planning Committee Scheme (DPC) and MLA funds is being procured, too. "Today, we have 2,449 oxygen beds and by month-end, 500 will be added, which is a sufficient number. Private facilities like JSW Sanjeevani hospital or Reliance Jumbo and government facilities like Nursing School DCHC of Alibaug will have dedicated paediatric facilities," Choudhari added.

According to Choudhari, nearly 3,000 O2 beds will be a sufficient number as around five per cent Covid-19 patients are needing oxygen therapy. "We are hopeful that with 43,916 cases per million cases as of today, our district would fare better," Choudhari said.

Fighting black fungus

Apart from children, the district is also preparing to treat cases of mucormycosis, also known as black fungus "As of today, none of our hospitals has reported any case of mucormycosis. I will discuss setting up a dedicated ward for it with civil surgeons and the dean of MGM medical college," Choudhari said. "Mucormycosis would require surgeries in most cases. This is why we would have to rope in MGM medical college," Choudhari said.

Talking about the shortage of staff and doctors, Choudhari said that the state government is filling up posts and that the district recently got some MBBS doctors. Posts of nurses and paramedic staff are also being filled.