Hindustan Times ST (Mumbai) - Live
KDMC preps ahead of 3rd wave
Early detection, contact tracing main focus of KDMC; community clinics with OPDs on cards
KALYAN: In the wake of the anticipated Covid third wave, the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) is focussing on early detection of cases and contract tracing to curb the spread in the initial days.
For this, the KDMC is setting up more Outpatient Departments (OPDs) to deal with patients at the ground level and give treatment on time. The corporation has also focussed on increasing the number of beds.
KDMC has planned to set up eight more OPDs and 20 community centres across the city.
Dr Ashwini Patil, medical officer, KDMC, said, “After the second wave, we realised the need to focus on setting up more OPDs at different locations so that people are tested on time and they are given proper medication and treatment without delay. Most people, when unwell, take consultation from their doctors and wait at home.
By the time they get admitted, it is very late and they’re critical. The OPDs will play the role of tracing many cases on time.”
KDMC has 16 primary health care centres that run OPDs for Covid patients. These health care centres have been working on tracing close contacts of Covid infections. The civic body has plans to add eight more such centres with OPDs that will cater to more locations in the city. Around 30 OPDs will be operated at these centres.
The OPDs at primary health care centres operate during the morning hours. The staff would reach out to a Covid infected patient and check on the family members and other contacts of that patient.
KDMC has plans to set up 20 community clinics through outsourcing. These clinics, which will also have OPDs, will be set up in all the wards to cover most of the areas in KDMC. The clinics will be operating during the evening and night hours.
“Our plan is to have at least two OPDs in each ward. KDMC has 10 wards. The OPDs will be increased to 50 so that there is proper contact tracing at the ground level,” said Patil.
Presently, KDMC is identifying the places where the OPDs will be set up. Once the places are identified, the health department will acquire the place or the structure and set up the infrastructure and other facilities to deal with Covid patients.
KDMC expected to start all the centres and clinics by June end. “KDMC should open an OPD at every possible locality so that they can actively track the cases in the area. One ward itself is big. There should be OPD chowkwise so that people can reach out anytime to the nearest chowk and get consultation on time,” said Prasad Shirke, 40, a resident of Rambaugh, Kalyan (W).
Meanwhile, KDMC has planned to set up four oxygen plants in its vicinity as a part of preparations for the suspected third wave. But, none of them is ready. “We’ve received materials for one oxygen plant that will be set up at the Rukminibai Civic Hospital. The work shall complete in another two weeks. The materials for the other plants are yet to arrive,” said Sudhakar Jagtap, deputy chief, KDMC.