Even as Assam continues to fight COVID, parts of Barak Valley is facing issues related to COVID patients which is fast becoming major cause of concern for health officials. COVID patients are getting the infection back after having recovered but they are not getting tested or treated in hospitals. Instead they are opting for self-medication, posing a threat to themselves as well as others.
"Most of the re-infection cases are going unreported. They are also spreading the disease. The patients do not wish to undergo the same testing and long isolation process," Dr Dawipayan Deb, Medical Officer, National Health Mission said.
Deb is a two-time COVID survivor who tested positive the second time just after 13 days of having recovered from COVID the first time.
"The re-infected people often prefer self-medication. The other big problem is that most people believe that once infected with COVID-19 they will be immune for life. Which is untrue. The anti-bodies if formed may remain for a few months only. The asymptomatic cases are more prone to get re-infected as antibodies formed in them might be less, or in some cases no antibodies are formed", Dr Deb said stressing on the need for wearing masks, gloves and maintaining social distance at all times even if a person has recovered from COVID.
Meanwhile, as the COVID situation continues to be grim in Barak Valley, the doctors and the administration of Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) has stepped up the facilities to provide the best possible care for the COVID as well as non COVID patients.
Talking about the current medical scenario at SMCH, Dr. Prasanjit Ghosh, Deputy Superintendent, SMCH said that there is sufficient amount of oxygen kits, PPE kits and testing kits. "The COVID ward in SMCH has 250 beds and 15 COVID ICUs and almost all the doctors are involved in treating both COVID and non-COVID patients equally.''
Around 60 COVID positive mothers delivered healthy babies out of which 40 of them underwent C section. Not only this, several COVID patients with kidney problems underwent their dialysis successfully.
Dr Ghosh also said that SMCH doctors are conducting training of field level workers and taking part in different social awareness programmes in different parts of Barak valley to create awareness and educate people about COVID.
''The quality of food for the patients have been seriously taken care of by the hospital administration and their admission to discharge process is being done for free as SMCH is a government run hospital'', Ghosh said.