Fighting any disease is a challenge but it is all the more so in the case of COVID-19 as the deadly virus takes a toll both on the physical and mental health of its victims. The mental trauma for the patients as well as their relatives gets multiplied once the person is hospitalized and there is complete disruption of communication between the two sides. Ever since the first wave of COVID-19 hit the country last year, there have been innumerable complaints about families not being allowed to speak to hospitalized patients even over phone. There have also been allegations of family members being kept in the dark about the treatment of patients and sometimes the news of deaths being sprung on them as a complete surprise.
There is no denying the mental trauma on both sides. Older patients, forced to remain incommunicado in hospitals for days together, can easily become victims of depression which worsens the disease. Whereas the need is to keep their morale high, complete isolation in hospital wards kills their fighting spirit. This is a crucial factor responsible for the high number of corona-related deaths in the country.
In this depressing scenario, the Malkangiri district administration has come up with a novel initiative to facilitate interaction between Covid patients in hospitals and their anxious relatives. Called ‘e-Sakshyat’, it is a virtual meeting between the two sides through videoconferencing. According to media reports, a centre has been opened near the office of the chief district medical officer in Malkangiri town where the relatives of patients can come and avail of the facility to know about the health condition of their near and dear ones being treated at the District Covid Hospital (DCH), Covid Care Centres (CCCs) and Covid Healthcare Centres (CHCs) across the district.
Necessary equipment including monitors and Zoom application have been installed for the purpose. There is no denying the importance of the initiative which is not only reassuring both for the patients and their relatives but will also help boost the morale of patients. More importantly it will ensure transparency in the treatment process and bring shortcomings, if any, to the knowledge of the higher authorities.
All possible care is being taken to make the use of this two-way video interaction facility easy for the patients as well as their relatives. Patients who cannot walk up to the designated rooms for the use of the facility will be provided with laptops for the purpose. Thus, even those undergoing treatment at ICUs can get connected with their relatives and have a live chat with them. One hopes the initiative taken by the Malkangiri district administration is replicated in other parts of the state and the country. It will go a long way in boosting the mental health of patients and bridging the communication gap between them and their families while they are in hospitals.
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