12 June 2021 02:33 am Views - 438
Authorities seem to calm down the people by saying that these deaths have occurred between mid-May and early June, but the fact is that deaths were reported during that in-between period as well. One may also argue that those deaths reported during that in-between period had occurred during a previous period. The end result is that the number of deaths due to COVID-19 is drastically rising, irrespective of when they have occurred.
The number of people falling victim to the pandemic at their homes is soaring. This is alarming. After analysing the previous daily COVID death records of the Epidemiology Unit by the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA), Executive Committee Member of the Association Dr. Prasad Colombage said on Tuesday that 28% of the deaths had taken place at homes and the percentage of deaths occurred at homes in the Colombo district was 18 per cent. However, it is not clear whether the current problem has drawn the attention of the relevant authorities.
Another fear among the people, though unjustifiable, is that they would test positive for coronavirus at the hospitals and would be taken to a faraway treatment centre or hospital
When the situation is getting worse day in and day out, it is natural for society to take it less seriously than before. When only eight COVID-19 related home deaths were reported during the whole of the second wave, it was taken seriously and a three-member committee was appointed in November, last year to conduct a scientific review into such deaths. Primary Health Services Director Dr. Priyantha Atapattu, Consultant Dr. Hasitha Tissera of the Epidemiology Unit and Consultant Dr. Ajith Tennakoon has been assigned to the job. It is not clear as to what were the findings of the probe. And now no action is on the cards when the number of home deaths amounts to 28 per cent of the total pandemic deaths.
The travel restrictions imposed to arrest the spread of coronavirus might be having a bearing on these deaths. Despite the health authorities repeatedly advising the public to get treated at hospitals if they fell sick, it is not practical for the ordinary people, the majority of whom could not find transport facilities. Although the police spokesman always says that vehicles carrying patients are allowed to travel, most drivers are not prepared to take the risk of returning home without the patient in their vehicle. They can prove the genuineness of their travel to the hospital, but they have no proof on their way home.
Despite the health authorities repeatedly advising the public to get treated at hospitals if they fell sick, it is not practical for the ordinary people, the majority of whom could not find transport facilities
Another fear among the people, though unjustifiable, is that they would test positive for coronavirus at the hospitals and would be taken to a faraway treatment centre or hospital. Their fear that they would not be allowed to see their loved ones, sometimes any more, if they tested positive is not unjustifiable.
It is understood that clinics for patients suffering from diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes are not functioning in many hospitals due to the pandemic threat. Hospitals earlier delivered medicines that had been prescribed when the patients visited the clinics last time to their homes. However, there are reports that some hospitals have stopped the delivery of medicines now. With the regular check-ups on the patients having not been done for more than a year, if the delivery of medicine is also stopped while travel restrictions are on, it might lead to the deterioration of the health of the patients.
This also might be a reason for the deaths being occurred at homes and the Health Ministry seems to know it. Health Promotion Bureau Director Consultant Dr. Ranjith Batuwanthudawa stated on Wednesday that a considerable number of COVID deaths have been reported due to the delay in seeking immediate medical assistance.
The effectiveness of the current travel restrictions that were put in place since May 21 is not clear, since the number of daily COVID-19 patients has been fluctuating between 2,500 and 3,500 for the past week which is the highest number reported so far while the death toll rising unabated. The Association of Medical Specialists (AMS) has called the ongoing travel restrictions, or lockdown, which have been designed to have a minimal economic impact, “useless” as it provides “very little benefit” in combatting the spread of Covid-19. “Staggered lockdowns are useless and have very little benefits,” AMS President Dr. LakKumar Fernando had told media on Wednesday.
Public Health Inspectors’ (PHI) Union also shared the same view on the restrictions. The Union’s General Secretary Mahinda Balasooriya has told media that a majority of the public was travelling without any consideration of the current restrictions. He was of the opinion that the country is properly locked down just like last year to yield proper results.
However, Dr. Fernando also says that without the current lockdown the Covid-19 situation would have been even worse. While citing a prediction 25 days ago by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that Sri Lanka would have 10,000 cases and 100 deaths per day in two weeks, he stated that lockdown has prevented that. While expressing displeasure over the current situation in the country, Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) also says that the number of deaths due to the pandemic would have doubled, if the current lockdown had not been imposed. The SLMA President Dr. Padma Gunaratne said on Wednesday said “It is being asked whether there are any travel restrictions in force at all. One can remember the traffic situation on our roads during the 2020 lockdown. The roads were deserted, unlike at present.”
Does it mean that the current restrictions are going to be extended? And how long is it going to be imposed again?
Meanwhile, it is unfortunate that the authorities have failed to streamline the vaccination process. While President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed to prioritise the vaccination of people over 60 years of age, the health officials in the Galle District had the audacity to openly challenge his instructions as well the WHO guidelines on the matter and administer the much sought after AstraZeneca doses to people even from Colombo who had travelled to Galle amidst the so-called restrictions.
From the beginning, the vaccination programme was flawed. It began on January 29 and on February 16 Parliamentarians received the jab without any age limit. While the WHO has recommended vaccination of elderly people after the health workers, in Sri Lanka people living in certain Grama Niladhari divisions which were said to be hotspots were selected for inoculation, without considering the age limit.
In a letter to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa last week, the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) also pointed out that the vaccination strategy as implemented at present is flawed and urgently needs a composite review. The letter requested that the President prioritises adults older than 60 years of age, followed by people with comorbidities between 30-60 years, instead of vaccinating people with the highest mobility in so-called hotspots.
All these demand a composite review of not only the vaccination programme but the whole process of COVID-19 control and a comprehensive and honest strategy to deal with the pandemic.