Youth group says Covid deaths were preventable; seeks answers

Dimapur, Aug. 4 (EMN): The Dimapur Ao Youth Organisation (Dayo) has raised concern over the deaths of two patients recently, which could have been prevented “if timely proper medical attention was provided”.

In a letter addressed to commissioner and secretary for Health and Family Welfare, the youth organisation narrated that in the first case, a 38-year-old woman from Aoyimti, was directed by four different hospitals until they arrived at Eden Medical Centre.

From there she was provided an ambulance along with oxygen and was advised to get tested at the district Covid hospital; however, she was refused admission since she did not have any direct contact with other Covid-19 patients, it stated. 

“Instead, they were asked to procure a letter from the CMO to get tested from PHC Chumoukedima. After the test, the relatives were asked to go back to the Covid hospital and collect the report from the Flu Corner. By this time the oxygen tank exhausted, and there was no replacement. As they hurried back to the Covid hospital, the test result was yet to arrive and while waiting for almost an hour inside the ambulance, she passed away.

“So the deceased was taken to her home in Aoyimti and only by evening the result was declared as Covid positive. The CMO report washed off an integral aspect of the horrific ordeal,” read the Dayo statement.

In the other case, the patient was recommended Covid sample testing by a doctor of a nursing home. “The authority in the district Covid hospital asked him for a referral letter and went back to get the letter. After completing all formalities they were instead asked to come back only if there was no improvement,” it stated.

As the patient’s health deteriorated the next day, he was taken to Eden Medical Centre and was subsequently sent to the Covid hospital for sample-test “which was denied the previous day, and by that time he had passed away”.

According to the organisation, these two case studies, from among citizens who had succumbed to Covid-19 without receiving any medical aid, have given rise to many probing questions.

“Is the present SOP for admission in the Covid hospital not practicable, and complicated for any ordinary citizens to avail emergency Covid care?  With patients showing different symptoms and fighting for their lives, what is expected of tensed and shocked relatives to bring this and that documents and requirements?

“Why patients are sent outside Covid hospitals for testing when the patients need immediate medical assistance? Is it just simple coincidences that most suspect dead patients are tested positive? How far is the TrueNat machine reliable? How long does it take for the BSL-2/3 to make the confirmation?” it queried.

The Dayo also questioned why the samples of relatives of the second case, who are now under home quarantine, have not been collected yet.

“It is high time that all hospitals and healthcare units, be it government or private, function in unison as a comprehensive and cohesive team,” it stated.

Also, the Dayo demanded a “transparent public disclosure” of how funds are being managed in Dimapur district.