NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, MAY 6
Expressing concern over high fatality rate among COVID-19 patients in some districts of Maharashtra and Gujarat, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Wednesday asked the states to focus on early surveillance, aggressive contact tracing, and early diagnosis to reduce the number of deaths in the areas.
મુખ્યમંત્રી વિજય રૂપાણીએ કેન્દ્રીય ગૃહમંત્રી અમિત શાહને દેશના શ્રેષ્ઠ ત્રણ તબીબોને અમદાવાદ મોકલવા અનુરોધ કર્યોhttps://t.co/STjZsEux1X pic.twitter.com/0qYZZdlqMv
— DD News Gujarati (@DDNewsGujarati) May 6, 2020
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Wednesday held a high-level meeting with Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Nitinbhai Patel and Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope.
In the meeting, Vardhan stressed the need for proper interventions like screening and testing of severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) and Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) cases as this may prevent the spread of infection in other areas. “Implementation of an effective containment strategy needs to be on the top priority of the states to reduce the mortality rate. It is the need of the hour to take preventive, pre-emptive, and comprehensive measures systematically and follow the protocols laid down by the Centre to prevent the occurrence of fresh cases,” he said.
महाराष्ट्र व गुजरात में #COVID19 की स्थिति की समीक्षा के दौरान मैंने कहा कि महाराष्ट्र की स्थिति निश्चित रूप से हमारे लिए चिंता का विषय है। मैंने केंद्र की तरफ से राज्य सरकार को हर संभव मदद का भरोसा दिलाया ।@rajeshtope11 @Nitinbhai_Patel @MoHFW_INDIA pic.twitter.com/uJMt9w6JtI
— Dr Harsh Vardhan (Modi Ka Pariwar) (@drharshvardhan) May 6, 2020
It was pointed out that in some cases, the patients either suppressed the information of their infection or reported late to the hospitals for treatment, which may be indicative of some fear or stigma associated with COVID-19.
Aggressive behavioural change and communication exercise need to be taken for removing the stigma against reporting COVID-19, which shall contribute towards timely reporting, clinical management, and reduction in fatality rates, the minister stressed.
“This shall also lead to people reporting early for diagnosis and treatment,” he said.
👉#ArogyaSetuApp पूरी तरह से सुरक्षित
👉किसी की #privacy को कोई ख़तरा नहीं
👉लोकेशन फीचर काफी सुरक्षितइस App से घर बैठे पता लगा सकते हैं कि #COVID19 के मरीज़ कहां-कहां हैं और App का इस्तेमाल करने वाला व्यक्ति COVID19 संक्रमित है या नहीं।@PMOIndia #IndiaFightsCorona pic.twitter.com/axB2XZCwpU
— Dr Harsh Vardhan (Modi Ka Pariwar) (@drharshvardhan) May 6, 2020
Of the 1,694 fatalities and 49,391 cases of coronavirus infections reported till Wednesday morning, Maharashtra tops the tally with 617 fatalities and 15,525 cases followed by Gujarat with 368 deaths and 6,245 cases, according to the data provided by the Union health ministry.
The health ministry had on Tuesday said the nationwide COVID-19 case status will be updated on its website only once a day in the morning instead of twice a day as was being done previously.
महाराष्ट्र और गुजरात में #COVID19 की वर्तमान स्थिति की समीक्षा के लिए आज मैंने वीडियो कॉन्फ्रेंस के द्वारा दोनो राज्यों के स्वास्थ्य मंत्रियों व अन्य वरिष्ठ अधिकारियों के साथ बैठक करी। बैठक में मेरे साथ मेरे सहयोगी MoS श्री @AshwiniKChoubey जी भी उपस्थित रहे।@MoHFW_INDIA pic.twitter.com/xtSLqUIgts
— Dr Harsh Vardhan (Modi Ka Pariwar) (@drharshvardhan) May 6, 2020
Because of Gujarat and Maharashtra reporting a larger number of coronavirus deaths and cases, Vardhan suggested that along with the surveillance teams in containment areas, community volunteers may also be identified at the ward-level to spread awareness about the preventive measures like hand washing, physical distancing, etc.
Some districts such as Aurangabad and Pune have done this, he said.
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package: Progress so far
Around 39 crore poor people received financial assistance of Rs 34,800 crore under the #PMGKP@PMOIndia @narendramodi @nsitharaman @CovidIndiaSeva @MoHFW_INDIA @BJP4India #IndiaFightsCorona #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/GI5RA8WSNZ
— Dr Harsh Vardhan (Modi Ka Pariwar) (@drharshvardhan) May 6, 2020
The health ministry would provide full support and handholding to the state governments through the National Health Mission (NHM) for health systems strengthening as part of the immediate and long-term measures, the health minister stated.
He also appreciated the move by some districts where the high-risk population, including the elderly and those with non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, were identified and provided focused treatment.
The Union minister urged the states to ensure that persons aged more than 65 years having any non-communicable disease are screened on priority in the Ayushman Bharat-Health and Wellness Centers.
He also pointed out that in compliance with the guidelines issued by the Centre, non-COVID-19 essential health services such as antenatal care, immunisation drives, Tuberculosis case finding and treatment, providing blood transfusion for dialysis patients, treatment of cancer patients among others should not be neglected.
Vardhan suggested that the data available with the states on the Health Management Information System (HMIS) for various diseases may be optimally utilised for risk profiling.
He also assured that additional teams comprising of officials from the Centre will also be deployed in the states as per their request, adding they may also take support offered by AIIMS, Delhi for treatment guidance and clinical management of COVID-19 patients through the national teleconsultation centre.
“A single mobile number (+91 9115444155) can be dialed from anywhere in the country by COVID-19 treating doctors to reach the centre,” he informed.
The health minister also asked the states to publicise the Aarogya Setu mobile application and the Aarogy Setu Interactive Voice Response System facility for those without smartphones.
Lauds ‘Corona Yodha Samitis’ developed in Surat slum areas
He also appreciated the best practices shared by the district magistrates, commissioners and other officials of various districts like ‘Corona Yodha Samitis’ developed in slum areas of Surat in Gujarat, distribution of soaps and masks to each family, installation of handwashing machines in slum areas, setting up of fever clinics among others.
