http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=060754
Dialysis unit installed at Canacona health center NT Network Canacona -- The people of Canacona taluka seemed happy at the full fledged introduction of the dialysis unit with air condition facility at Canacona Community Health Center from last week onwards. It has been a dream of Canaconakars for the last ten years since most patients suffered from Kidney linked diseases and a dialysis unit was the need of the hour. According to prominent personalities, including Mr Rajesh Gaonkar, Sarpanch of Cotigao village panchayat; Mr Rangnath Naik Gaonkar, chairperson of Canacona Municipality, the credit of introduction of the full-fledged dialysis at the center goes to Mr Vishwjeet Rane, minister for health. "Almost 95 per cent vacant posts at Canacona CHC were filled up while the rest will shortly be filled," said Dr V R Murlidharan, health officer of the Canacona center. Speaking to The Navhind Times, recently, Dr Murli said that the center is now functioning smoothly and so far more then 28 people from Canacona taluka are receiving dialysis at the center, which commenced from March 23 this year. The dialysis machines, which were installed four years ago at CHC were shifted to Margao Hospicio due to erratic power supply and non-availability of generator and proper water supply at Canacona. Speaking to The Navhind Times, the prominent residents of Canacona said that around hundred kidney patients of the taluka were being treated in and around Goa: at Manipal Hospital (Karnataka) and at KLES at Belgaum, due to lack of dialysis machine at CHC. But today they are happy over the commencement of the same at Canacona and thanked Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat and health minister, Mr Vishwajeet Rane for taking an interest in Canacona. Four dialysis units are presently working in the two room set up while two are kept as standby. However, according to sources, some patients from Canacona continue to do dialysis either at Hospicio, private hospital, Margao or out of the state hospitals done as before due to lack of faith in the new units. The blood facilities are available only in major hospitals and that is one of the reason why some patients in need of blood are shifted at Hospicio at Margao, added Dr Murli. It is even anticipated that over 70 per cent of the Kidney patients at Goa Medical College, Bambolim, come from this taluka alone. "Presently, on a daily average, four patients are treated on dialysis at Canacona, with the help of eight senior most technicians," informed Dr Murli.
