In a fight against the novel coronavirus, many in the city have set up mini hospital-like facilities at home so that the family members, especially the elderly, can avail of medical help, especially since hospitals are running out of beds. They are arranging for equipment, such as oxygen cylinders, pulse oximeters and PPE kits, and also stocking up on medicines for an emergency.
Avijit Dhar, a marketing professional from Behala, has converted an empty flat he bought a few years ago into a mock hospital. Along with his sister Soma, Avijit has put up mattresses and oxygen cylinders in every room, arranged for PPE and face shields and stocked up on disinfectants, sanitizers and medicines, on his doctors’ advice. His family, including elderly parents, has been taking possible Covid-preventive medicines on doctors’ advice. They have also bought hydrogen-peroxide and bleaching powder to disinfect their set-up.
Avijit took the cue from his friend, a senior professional at Webel Solar, who tested Covid-positive and had to isolate himself on the ground floor of his house. He has elderly parents for whom he had to be extra cautious. His entire family shifted to the first floor, where they had to adjust in the limited space. Now cured, and out of isolation on Sunday, the friend got the room and the washroom he used sanitized. A pulse oximeter already at home, he plans to get a new oxygen cylinder and buy fresh stock of medicines, such as vitamins C and D3, zinc supplements and recommended antibiotics. He had used a telemedicine package of a hospital for himself and now plans to register for a preventive-care flexi-package for his family for regular consultations. “Getting a bed in a hospital is a huge problem nowadays and so, I will maintain my home set-up for emergency,” he said.
Many who don’t have enough space at home are asking friends and relatives for help. Subhro Sarkar, who is part of the liaison team of a real estate company, is not only scared for his elderly parents but also for his sister, who has cerebral palsy. He has an NRI friend, who has allowed him to use a washroom and the living room in his vacant flat in the same apartment as his in Kasba, in case two patients need to be isolated. Subhro is arranging for cylinders, oximeters, medicines and is also tying up with doctors.
People are hiring oxygen cylinders by paying a one-time amount of Rs 1,500 and a daily charge of Rs 30. “None of us is suffering at the moment, but we have pre-ordered cylinders and have bought multiple oximeters,” said Piyali Roychowdhury, a banker, who has elderly parents at home, both of whom suffer from COPD.
In Alipore, a man, his parents and two attendants tested positive for Covid but have now recovered. His father was hospitalised for four days, while the rest stayed in home isolation and treatment was done over distance mode through hospital tie-up. “Space is not a constraint in the house and we will keep the isolation units fully equipped. We will continue with our tie-ups with the hospital as there is a lot of post-Covid consultation and care that will continue,” he added.
Source: Times of India
