Himachal CM directs districts to increase testing for Covid-19

Shimla:

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today held virtual meeting from here with the Deputy Commissioners, Superintendent of Police, Chief Medical Officers, Principals and Medial Superintendents of all the Medical Colleges of the State to review the situation, keeping in view the sharp surge in Covid-19 cases in the State. 

The Chief Minister said that the twin strategy for testing, tracing and treatment with effective surveillance through micro containment zones was need of the hour. All the Deputy Commissioners must ensure increasing the number of testing in their respective districts. He said that the State Health department must ensure minimum wastage in Covid-19 vaccination as the Nation and State cannot afford this.

Jai Ram Thakur said that the State Government had almost reached the target of enhancing the bed capacity for the Covid-19 patients to 3000 and efforts were on to increase the same to about 5000 to meet out any emergent situation. He said that there was no scarcity of medicines, medical inputs and oxygen in the State. He said that as a precautionary measure, the State Government had requisitioned 3000 additional D-Type oxygen cylinders for ensuring that there was no shortage of empty cylinders.

He said that the doctors and paramedical staff must ensure effective communication with the Covid-19 patients in hospitals for boosting their morale which would help in their speedy recovery. He said that senior doctors must also regularly visit the Covid wards to enquire about the health of admitted patients. He said that proper sanitation and hygiene must also be ensured in the hospitals.

Jai Ram Thakur said that home isolation system must also be strengthened and Asha workers, Anganwari Workers, NGOs, Mahila Mandals, Yuvak Mandals etc. must be motivated to help the patients in home isolation by keeping in touch with their family members. He also urged the elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies to keep an eye on the patients in home isolation besides ensuring that the persons visiting the State were strictly following the SoPs issued by the State Government from time to time.

Chief Minister interacted with the doctors, nurses, ward boys and sanitary workers working in Covid-19 wards of IGMC, Shimla, Dr. RPGMC Tanda, Government Medical Colleges Chamba and Ner Chowk. He thanked them for rendering great services in providing best medical treatment to the patients in the Covid wards.

Jai Ram Thakur said that as many as 15.21 lakh doses of vaccines had been administered to the people in the State till date and efforts must be made to speed up the vaccination drive in the State. He said that the case recovery rate in the State was 83 percent whereas case fatality rate was 1.50 percent. He said that efforts must be made to minimize the fatality rate by timely treating the patients.

Health Minister Dr Rajiv Saizal said that doctors, nurses and other para medical staff of AYUSH department must be requisitioned by the Health Department to provide better health services to the people as they were trained in modern system of medicines also.

Chief Secretary Anil Khachi said that follow up of home isolation cases was vital so that they could be provided better health services. He said that effective involvement of community must be ensured to tackling the spread of this virus.  

Secretary Health Amitabh Awasthi said that steps were being taken to increase the capacity of oxygenated beds in the State.

Additional Chief Secretary J.C. Sharma, Mission Director NHM HP Dr. Nipun Jindal, Director Health Services Dr. B.B. Katoch and other senior officers were present in the meeting.