Up-gradation of NBMCH Covid facilities sought- Nine Covid patients die in Siliguri

SNS, SILIGURI, 6 MAY 21 : Voluntary organisations have demanded up-gradation of facilities for Covid-19 treatment at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH), including ensuring RT-PCR tests for all who turn up at the NBMCH and proper treatment of patients.

"Amid the exponential surge in Covid- 19 cases during its second wave, the healthcare infrastructure available at the principal government-run health facility in north Bengal is in a sort of disarray. We believe there are some issues that need to be addressed at the NBMCH," said the secretary of the Siliguri Welfare Organisation, Rupak De Sarkar.

Mr De Sarkar added: "Increasing vaccination cover and conducting more and more tests for early detection are among two important steps to combat the situation. However, at the NBMCH, RT-PCR tests for Covid-19 suspects are getting stalled every day, and shockingly, senior citizens and sick people are also shown the door in absence of mItiple testing unit facilities. Despite waiting in queues for the vaccination for hours, many people are denied the doses. People are baffled due to the absence of the daily display of available doses."

The organisation demanded introduction of an apt machinery to ensure "respectful dispatch" of people dying from Covid- 19 from the NBMCH for cremation.

It also highlighted recent reports that food was denied to patients during the day time in the female Covid ward, and alleged refusal to carry a patient for CT scan by the ward health assistants, citing non-availability of either a stretcher or wheelchair.

The members of the organisation met the NBMCH superintendent, Dr Sanjay Kumar Mallick, today

Nine Covid patients die in Siliguri

Nine persons, who had tested positive for Covid-19, died in Siliguri in the past 24 hours, sources said.

A 40-year-old resident of Phansidewa, a 55-year-old resident of Matigara, a 53 year-old resident of NJP area, a 45-year-old resident of Matigara, a 43 -year-old woman from Deshbandhu Para, and a woman at Patharghata died at the NBMCH. A 92-yearold resident of Pradhan Nagar was declared brought dead there.

An 81-year-old resident of Bharat Nagar, and a 71-year old woman of Jalpaiguri died in a private nursing home.

693 new cases in Darjeeling district

Meanwhile, Darjeeling district reported 693 new Covid1.9 cases in the past 24 hours, sources said. A total of 196 cases were found in the Siliguri Municipal Corporation area under the district, 16 in Darjeeling Municipality, 45 in Sukuna, 28 in Kurseong Municipality, 27 in Mirik, 14 in Bijanbari, four in Sukhia Pokhari, two in Takdah, 30 in Kharibari, 120 in Matigara, 141 in Naxalbari, and 70 in Phansidwa.

A total of 268 cases were detected in the SMC, including in areas that fall in Jalpaiguri district, the sources said.

Also, sources said that 208 patients had recovered, including those in home isolation, in the district in the past 24 hours.

Traders arrested

Police arrested around 11 traders from the NJ P area for allegedly violating orders to keep their shops, hotels, salons closed after 10 am today. The state government has issued a notification on a 7 am-10am and 3pm-5pm window of opening hours applicable to markets, standalone shops and others.