Early detection, early hospitalisation still a myth
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 06 2021: Though the health authority has been advocating 'early detection and early hospitalisation' to check preventable deaths due to Covid-19, the slogan is still a myth in the society, in its real context, to say the least.

While there are various reasons for hesitancy among the people in disclosing their Covid status and rushing to hospital for necessary treatment, the situation contributes to the high fatality rate being experienced in the state to a great extent.

As per reports collected by The People's Chronicle from individuals, task force leaders of different localities in different districts; maximum of the people in the state are hesitant to come out and get tested for Covid-19 when they feel unwell with symptoms similar to the viral infection.

Only about 1 per cent of the test conducted on daily basis is voluntary examination due to having suspicious symptoms while the rest are samples from contact tracing or mass testing organised in some pockets.

The main reasons for hiding their Covid status includes fear of stigma, fear of isolation, fear of anxiety and taking the disease lightly.

While social stigma against Covid positive patients cannot be ruled out completely, the idea of stigmatisation is just an abstract thought among the minds of the positive people which mainly comes out from the isolation policy taken up to prevent further spread of the virus in the community.

Even the bravest person falls prey to this fear of stigmatisation as they see the mandatory isolation as some sort of social stigma.

Fear of isolation is also a real thing in the society and it prevents several families from getting tested when they have symptoms of Covid-19.Such concepts are common in almost every locality but are significantly higher in localities where there are no active voluntary activities from the local clubs or local authorities.

The situation can also be comprehended through random interaction with some pharmacists.

Interestingly, there are also some sections of the public who advise against undergoing Covid test with the only reason they cite is that they already believe that they might have Covid and getting a positive result will only add to mental stress and anxiety.

For them, it is okay not to confirm their health condition but take medicines prescribed for Covid patients.

On the other hand, there are also a large group of people, who are living under the notion that majority of the infection is either asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic and there is no need for special medical care, except for isolation.

These groups of people put their best efforts to avoid testing even during contact tracing exercise and opt for self-treatment and self-isolation without giving a second thought on the threat they pose to the elders and young children in their families as well as the society.

These groups of people hide their Covid status as far as possible and they only come out in the last minute when someone in their families experience severe symptoms such as shortness of breath which is caused by low oxygen saturation level due to lung infection by Covid.

On studying daily death reports compiled by the Death Audit Committee, at least 20 to 40 per cent of deaths occurred within 24 to 72 hours of reaching the hospital.

While some of these late arrivals are from district hospitals or CCCs, maximum of them are due to reluctance in getting tested early.

Some patients even seek hospitalisation after oxygen saturation level as low as 50 per cent.

On the other hand, there are also delays in making necessary arrangements on the part of the state government.

Most of the control room services are operated at the level of telephone directory.

Any person contacting the control room gets at least half a dozen mobile numbers referred by personnel manning the control room and so, it takes several hours to accessed compatible service.

Based on these facts, it would not be wrong to say that at least 20 to 30 per cent of the Covid related deaths could be prevented through early detection and early hospitalisation, while ensuring efficient service to the public from the side of the government is very essential.

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