Kangpokpi records yet another Covid fatality
Source: Chronicle News Service

Kangpokpi, May 15 2021: Kangpokpi district witnessed another COVID fatality as a man from T Khullen village admitted to the Covid Care Centre at Leikop succumbed on Saturday morning.

The deceased was one Rai-song Sonba of Lungtaimai Colony, T Khullen village.

He was taken to Peace Hospital & Research Institute, Porompat Imphal on May 13 with complains of fever, cough and shortness of breath but tested positive for Covid and was referred to another hospital and later admitted to the Covid Care Centre at Leikop, Kangpokpi district on the same day around 5:30 pm due to non-availability of bed in Imphal.

He then succumbed to Covid-19 around 4:30 am Saturday.

The 60-year-old was a co-morbid patient having heart problem.

He was buried at T Khullen village cemetery following strict protocols.

With one more death, the number of fatalities in the district now stands at 22 .

Meanwhile, COVID-19 infections in the district continued to surge with eight new positive cases detected on Saturday, taking the active caseload to 87.Five recovered patients were discharged on Saturday.

Nine patients are currently undergoing treatment at Leikop COVID Care Centre.

As infections and fatalities mount, Kangpokpi district is grappling with shortage of manpower and equipment including oxygen.

According to a source from the district hospital, there are only 28 oxygen cylinders including 16 D-type and 12 B-type with two oxygen concentrators and two ventilators.

Out of the 28 oxygen cylinders, five D-type and four B-type oxygen cylinders are filled as of now while the only two available ventilators are also not working properly.

Considering the alarming COVID situation, the available oxygen cylinders are not enough to cope with the increasing number of positive patients in the district.

Apart from shortage of oxygen cylinders, oxygen concentrators and ventilators, there is also acute shortage of manpower including doctors and nurses at the COVID Care Centre.

Recently, two new doctors reported for duty following government's direction.

Medical officers from various health centres in the district are assigned duties on roster and they have been managing the COVID Care Centre to date.

Only two doctors, two nurses and two multi-tasking staffers at the COVID Care Centre are too few to manage the centre, considering the challenging situation.

The state government had recruited 70 doctors last year and 151 doctors this year to man the COVID Care Centres in the valley while only two doctors were sanctioned for Kangpokpi district.

One post each of anaesthesia and medicine specialist is laying vacant in the district hospital at a time when the role of anaesthetist and medicine doctors is vital.

The state government can provide more medical officers if there are no anaesthetist and medicine specialist, considering the situation.

Moreover, non-availability of beds in the state capital and the alarming surge of COVID cases in the district could create a huge problem for the COVID Care Centre which is reeling under acute shortage of manpower.

The situation in Kangpokpi district looks grim and the state government must act fast to address the urgent requirements of district so as to prevent more fatalities.

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