The number of positive patients and deaths in Nagpur district is rising each day. During the first wave of Corona, around 1,400 villages in Nagpur district had kept the deadly virus out of its border but now the second wave has gripped even those villages. The situation is worrisome in the city, but in rural area the healthcare system has completely collapsed.
Due to the increase in number of patients, the healthcare facility in villages is not sufficient. Tests are being conducted at primary health centers and sub-centers. Medicines are being provided to patients who are not severely infected. But patients with critical conditions are referred to Nagpur directly. But unfortunately, the patients’ still have to suffer as there are no beds in city as well.
Patients with mild symptoms of Corona are being treated with vitamin pills. They are given vitamin tablets at PHCs. In Villages, forget ventilators, the rural health centers do not even have oxygen for critical patients. The X-ray machine is now working but no radiologist. Medicines like Remdesivir, Fabiflu are not available in rural areas.
At present, Asha workers and Anganwadi Sevikas are the backbone of rural medical infrastructure. They are keeping a tab of the patients who are in home isolation, as the government machinery in rural area is under quarantine.
Meanwhile as the cases are rising, there has been panic in the villages over Mayo, and GMCH. Many citizens in rural and city are of the opinion that after testing positive, they are being sent to Mayo and GMCH. The patient which gets admitted in these hospitals, does not return alive, so they are treating them at home without consulting any health worker or doctor. At the same time, as there are no beds available in the city, the patients are being treated in the village itself. The villagers need to display same discipline which they did during first wave, else the corona may create havoc in villages.
