 Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Apr 23: Lieutenant Governor, GC Murmu today reviewed preparedness and arrangements for dealing with coronavirus outbreak—directing divisional administration to reach out to masses, identify vulnerable age groups, besides augmenting robust healthcare facility on priority.
Speaking during a high level meeting at Raj Bhavan, Srinagar, the Lieutenant Governor said COVID-19 was a novel virus and it demanded novel interventions from the administration. He urged administration to work in close coordination and bring the mortality rate to its minimum.
“Fighting COVID-19 is a long-drawn-out battle. We all must gear up and fight it scientifically,” he said. “There shouldn’t be any lapse from the administration whatsoever, besides the concerned Deputy Commissioners should do profiling of the vulnerable areas and try to reach out to the affected people on priority,” he said.
Lauding Srinagar Administration for putting robust mechanism in place for fighting COVID-19 outbreak and augmenting best possible infrastructure amid healthcare crisis, Murmu directed all the districts to ensure safety and security for the people—urging the concerned District Magistrates to lend all necessary and possible support to the needy people in their areas.
Murmu said that at a time when the administration was working round the clock for ensuring the welfare of the people, he urged people to cooperate with the administration and follow the health and administrative advisories in letter in sprit to minimize the spread of the virus and urged people to take special care of vulnerable age groups like elderly, children and people with existing illnesses. Murmu reiterated that there would be no shortage of essential commodities or any service and asked people to maintain social distance as a precautionary measure to stop the spread of the virus.
“We are here for people to give our best. People shouldn’t suffer any cost. They (people) shouldn’t panic and people must stay indoors till the time lockdown is in place,” he said.
Reviewing the arrangements for Kashmir division, the LG lauded the efforts of frontline health workers, security forces and the staff of essential services and appealed to the general public to complement the efforts of the government and cooperate in breaking the chain.
Murmu urged the divisional administration to begin aggressive profiling of vulnerable age groups in the communities—saying that people above the ag Emergency services, OPDs shouldn’t suffer
“Testing capacity should be accelerated and people above age group of 60 should be screened and if any healthcare issue is seen they should be immediately provided healthcare facilities,” he said. “There shouldn’t be any lapse from the health department on this,” he added.
The Lieutenant Governor said that clear guidelines and SOP should be adopted to deal with coronavirus-related biomedical waste. He directed concerned Deputy Commissioners to adopt guidelines for handling, treatment and safe disposal of biomedical waste generated during treatment, diagnosis and quarantine of patients confirmed or suspected to have the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19). “There shouldn’t be any lapse in disposing off the biomedical waste. A proper scientific method should be adopted,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor directed the administration, especially heads of the tertiary care healthcare institutions and Director Health Services, Kashmir, to protect the healthcare workers. He said that healthcare workers are at risk from handling Covid-19 patients and people in quarantine centres.
“You all have to make sure that all your staff are protected and there is no compromise on their safety,” he said. “they should be provided with every possible support and help from the administration and they should be fully geared,” he added. He said that medical experts and specialists should send out warnings to the masses on mishandling of biomedical waste. He said that discarded masks, gloves and tissues could be potential sources for the spread of this highly contagious virus.
The meeting was attended by Advisors to Lieutenant Governor, Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar and Baseer Ahmad Khan, Chief Secretary, BVR Subhramanyam, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole, Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Director, SKIMS, Dr AG Ahnagar, Principal, Government Medical College, Srinagar, Dr Saima Rashid, Director, Health Services, Kashmir, Sameer Mattoo, OSDs COVID Management, Aijaz Ahmad Khan, Vikas Kundal, Owais Ahmad, Joint Director, DIPR, Kashmir, Haris Handoo among other senior officers. |
