Funds for treating politicos, but no money for common man

RELYING ON ELIZA TEST
>> A senior doctor at the district hospital informed The Goan that dengue tests can be done by two methods – Rapid test and Eliza test
>> While the report in Rapid test kits was prompt, they were in short supply. The staff relies on Eliza tests where reports come only after some days
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UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE
>> Heston Sequeira had the misfortune of remaining in a queue in the Asilo, only to be told that the hospital has no kits
>> The staff, however, volunteered to take my blood sample but said the report would come after six days, said Sequeira
>> So, what it means is that if a patient indeed has dengue, he has to wait for six more days to take treatment, he questioned
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MAPUSA: It may be strange while the State government has funds to send its ministers to Mumbai and abroad for medical treatment, it has no funds to procure dengue test kits and send them to hospitals for the common man.
With at least six cases of dengue reported from Mapusa so far and a suspect case in Aldona, what came as a shock was the unavailability of dengue test kits at the North Goa District Hospital (Asilo) at Mapusa, for the use of common man.
The absence of dengue kit at the biggest government hospital in the taluka came to light after a resident of Aldona, Heston Sequeira, had the misfortune of remaining in a queue in the Asilo, only to be told that the hospital has no kits.
“After a long wait, I was informed that dengue kits are not available in the hospital. The staff, however, volunteered to take my blood sample but said the report would come after six days.”
“So, what it means is that if a patient indeed has dengue, he has to wait for six more days to take treatment. What sort of medical facility is this government offering its citizens,” a peeved Sequeira questioned.
The Aldona resident’s distress story started much before he reached the district hospital.
After his next door neighbour at Cottarbhat-Aldona was detected of dengue last week, Sequeira, who was feeling feverish and nauseous, decided to approach the Aldona Primary Health Centre for a dengue test.
“As I was filling my papers, the staff on duty at the Aldona PHC instructed me to first check if there were dengue kits available in the laboratory. And rightly, the kits where not available at the PHC, which led me to the district hospital,” Sequeira told The Goan.
With no dengue kits at the district hospital and the health centre, he had no option but conduct the test at a private clinic in Mapusa.
“I got the report within 30 minutes, which cost me around Rs 400. I was relieved that the test was negative for dengue, but what astounded me was the government’s casual approach towards the health concerns of the common man. They should at least make these dengue kits available at all health centres,” Sequeira said.
A senior doctor at the district hospital informed The Goan that dengue tests can be done by two methods – Rapid test and Eliza test.
While the report in rapid test kits was prompt, they were in short supply. The staff in the hospital relies on Eliza tests where the reports come only after some days.
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Dengue tests not available at
every health centre: Official

MAPUSA: The National Victor-Borne Disease Control Project Deputy Director Dr Anant Palekar has said dengue confirmatory tests were done at sentinel site hospitals and were not available at every heath centre.
Responding to concerns that dengue kits were not available at the Aldona Primary Health Centre and rapid test kits were in short supply at the North Goa District hospital, Dr Palekar said: “Dengue tests are not done at every health centre but blood samples are collected and sent for further investigation at sentinel site hospitals.”
“Patients need not go to the sentinel site hospitals,” he added.
There are three sentinel site hospitals in the State – one each in North and South Goa and the Goa Medical College at Bambolim.
In North Goa, it’s the North Goa District Hospital (Asilo) and the South Goa District Hospital (Hospicio) in South Goa.
Dr Palekar, however, concurred that it took some days for the report to arrive.