Delay in seeking health care is becoming an alarming factor in handling the Covid fatality numbers in West Garo Hills.
This was aired at an emergency meeting of the Committee for Covid Death Audit held in Tura recently. People admitted to hospitals at the very last stage have accounted for 95 per cent of the Covid-19 deaths and 97 per cent of them were not vaccinated.
West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Ram Singh said that people are also seeking alternative medicines or visiting information practitioners and getting admitted in hospitals only at a later stage which may have been too late for treatment.
The meeting also felt that people, those who are asymptomatic or even test positive may be allowed to go by themselves to hospitals without waiting for ambulances to ferry them as this would help to simplify the process and de-stigmatise those who test positive to seek early treatment in a way they find convenient and visit the nearest PHC/CHC or hospital of their choice.
Like any other disease, it is now important to make health seeking behaviour for Covid by removing fear and apprehension from the minds of the people since many elderly people have expressed their refusal to test, be declared positive, get admitted and die alone in the hospital without any dignity, he stated.
In this regard, the DC informed that all the headmen and community leaders would be informed that Covid dead bodies can be taken home after the formalities are completed in the hospitals and give decent burial by following the protocols issued.
Further, the medical experts also expressed that the burial assistants need not wear full PPE at sites, as long as they are properly masked and no breach happens, that is, being unmasked or near each other.
Moreover, anyone with cold or flu like symptoms lasting more than five days should immediately seek medical help at the nearest PHC/CHC or the nearest hospital and those living in remote villages should seek the help of ASHA/ Anganwadi Workers who would facilitate necessary urgent medical help in consultant with Medical and Health Officers concerned.
