Demand for oxygen has increased 20 times in Barak Valley; "Situation might get worse," warns MP Rajdeep Roy

The Coronavirus infection this year is a bit different from the last year. More than 40 lakhs of people live in the Barak Valley where the Silchar Medical College & Hospital happens to be the only institution boasting of ICU facilities. The patients are in need of much more oxygen this year than last year, even after recovering from the coronavirus. In the last 10 days, the demand for oxygen at the Silchar Medical College & Hospital has increased 20 times. Silchar MP and physician Dr Rajdeep Roy thinks that the level of infection will increase a lot in the next 10 days, so everyone should be more careful than ever before. In a press conference called by him on Thursday, he sought the help of everyone in the Barak Valley to stop the spread of and contain the Covid-19 virus.

Rajdeep Roy said, “The government can impose rules, but it will work only when the people will want to obey it. You can bring a horse to the water, but you cannot make him drink it. How much dangerous the virus that’s wreaking havoc this year is we can only guess, it isn’t fully recognized yet. However, we feel that the virus that’s working in the air right now is more lethal than the last year. And therefore, its fatality rate too is higher this year. Only with awareness and caution can we delay the pandemic by a few months. By then, most people will be vaccinated, then the fight will get a little easier. A person taking the first dose is 80% safer than a person who has not been vaccinated, a person can be up to 96% safe after taking the second dose. We have to do two things right now, the first is to keep ourselves completely away from the virus and the second is to get the vaccine, no matter how difficult it is. At this point, we should not compromise our safety by indifference or blaming each other.”

On how the situation is getting worse, he said, “The infection rate in the Barak Valley is now around 9%, in Delhi, it is around 30%. The situation there is almost epidemic and it won’t take long to get there if we are not careful. Silchar Medical College & Hospital has 100 ICU beds, the government is trying to improve oxygen and ICU services in district-level hospitals. But time is not our side and responsibility is bigger. At least 180 senior doctors are providing round-the-clock service in seven medical college hospitals in the state. In addition to treating patients, training junior doctors and other health workers is also another aspect. The virus is changing its strain repeatedly and the lethality of the infection is increasing. At this juncture, we can only save society by keeping ourselves safe and conscious. This is our appeal to everyone in the Barak Valley, to stand by each other in this fight.”

Newly elected MLA from Silchar Dipayan Chakraborty returned from Guwahati and went straight to the Silchar Medical College & Hospital.  He entered the ICU department of the hospital wearing a PPE kit and talked to the patients.  Although the patients could not recognize him they did speak up regarding several issues. Regarding that experience, he said, “We can see that patients are dying even after getting better treatment in different hospitals across the country. However, the number of deaths at the SMCH is relatively low and after talking to patients, I realized that the service too is much better. We are with the common people, but the government cannot fight against the virus alone. Everyone has to work equally as a fighter in this battle. Everyone will be mentally positive and aware, that should be our resolution.”