By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 22 May: Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat today reviewed the Covid situation in the state, during a meeting chaired by him with senior government officers as well as district level officers, through video conferencing. The Chief Minister directed to make a special plan to help such children whose parents or the head of the family had died of Covid infection. Rawat directed the authorities to start and complete the identification of such children and families at the earliest so that timely help could be ensured to the needy.
The Chief Minister said that preparations be geared up to deal with any possible third wave of Covid and the steps towards this be taken at the earliest. Noting that there was a decrease in the count of fresh Covid cases in the state, he said that it was no ground to let the guard off. The state ought to remain on high alert and there be no laxity at all. Keeping in mind that the third wave could affect the children more, steps to prevent such a possibility be taken. For this mapping be carried out at district and block level. The officials working at the ground level ought to be trained in knowhow to deal with this possibility. There ought to be no shortage at the district and block level of any kind including medicines. He directed the District Magistrates to prepare a village level plan to deal with any possible third wave.
The Chief Minister said that strict action be taken against those who did not wear masks or adhere to the social distancing norms. Necessary action be taken to prevent black marketing of drugs, oxygen or other essential commodities, he directed. He noted that the e-Sanjeevani portal for free online medical consultation was getting good response in the state. He said that the portal be further strengthened and promoted even more aggressively. The Chief Minister said that attention also be paid to proper disposal of bio-medical waste. This was the responsibility of department of Urban Development, municipal bodies and Panchayati Raj Department in rural areas to ensure this. .
The Chief Minister said that adequate attention be paid to Covid monitoring in rural areas. For this, effective implementation of decentralised planning be ensured. Asha, ANM be properly trained in Covid medical protocols. The medical care facilities like Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) needed to be strengthened in order to deal with Covid infection in the state and control rooms be set up in each block. Cooperation of gram sabhas be taken for effective implementation of measures to curb spread of Covid in the rural areas. A provision of mobile testing vans, mobile labs, sampling vans for remote areas be made to the maximum possible extent. Covid medical kits and other medicines be distributed from village to village and , house to house. Quarantine centers in villages be identified and equipped with all the necessary facilities.
The Chief Minister Rawat said that there was no shortage of funds in vaccination. For this, every possible effort was being made to speed up the process of vaccination. He directed the officials that the establishment of the proposed and under construction Oxygen Generation Plant be completed soon. Oxygen supply had improved a lot but the adequate supplies needed to be maintained and improved further. The CM instructed the officials to ensure that all the ICUs in the state were operational and data updation of Covid information be ensured on real time basis. The Chief Minister asked the authorities to be prepared in respect of Dengue too. Public awareness campaigns be carried out to ensure that all measures to prevent spread of dengue be taken throughout the state and it be ensured that there was no water collection of stagnant water in and around Covid care centres and hospitals.
Chief Secretary Om Prakash said that there was a need to increase the testing especially in rural areas. All the preparations to counter any possible third wave of Covid were required to be done at the earliest Special monitoring be done of all the persons coming from other states. He asked the district level officials to seek participation of village committees in public awareness campaigns. And to ensure adequate stock of oxygen in advance in view of the upcoming monsoon season.
Chief advisor to the Chief Minister, Shatrughna Singh, DGP Ashok Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary Manisha Panwar, Secretary Amit Negi, Dr Pankaj Kumar Pandey along with senior officers of the government, Commisioners of both the divisions, District Magistrates and other senior officials were present in the meeting.
