dengue death sparks protest in vasco

Over 100 angry residents march with placards and photos of deceased youth towards chicalim hospital, demand better services

| AUGUST 20, 2019, 02:43 AM IST

the goan I network

VASCO

The recent death of a Vasco youth from suspected dengue caused a outrage among the people in Vasco, with scores of angry locals staging a protest march on Monday to demand better services at the Chicalim sub district hospital.

A group of over 100 residents along with Mormugao councillors Lavina D’Souza and Krishna Salkar began their protest march from St Andrew’s church and proceeded to the dy collector’s office. The group of angry locals held placards and photos of the deceased youth and reached the dy collector’s office, only to realise that a meeting convened by Vasco MLA 

Carlos Almeida with health officials was in progress to discuss the issue.   

A group of locals then barged into the meeting causing chaos and they were involved in heated arguments with health officials and doctors of SDH.   

Blaming SDH for the death of the youth, the angry residents demanded that the SDH be upgraded within 10 days and insisted that Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane visits the SDH to take stock of the situation.   

Responding to them, Almeida assured the residents that he would take up the matter with Rane. MMC councillor Lavina D’Souza said the protest should be an eye-opener for Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane. “There are many dengue cases in Vasco and the health department and health minster must take a note that SDH is the only hope for the poor in such cases,” said D’Souza.   

Another resident, Annie Cabral, said the health department must begin a recruiting drive for staff at the SDH. “The SDH has no facility and even blood sample reports are given after two days. Doctors are saying no staff is available and there are no proper ambulance services. How does a new SDH work in such condition and how can we expect it to save lives,” asked Cabral. 

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