Hailakandi administration holds review meeting on Coronavirus

March 8: On the eve of Holi festival, Hailakandi district administration held a review meeting with the Health department officials concerned to chalk out a strategy to counter the Coronavirus threat.

Reviewing the preparedness and monitoring mechanism of the Health department to combat Coronavirus, Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli asked the health department to initiate steps for sensitizing all government officials from district headquarters to panchayat level as well as health workers on the Coronavirus threat and the need for taking precautionary measures.

The Deputy Commissioner during the review meeting directed the Health officials to carry out awareness activities among people by engaging field level functionaries of the department.
“A detailed meeting with health officials concerned and doctors from Silchar Medical College and Hospital was held on Sunday to chalk out a strategy,” Jalli said, adding the health authorities have been instructed to make adequate arrangements to counter the spread of the disease.

Health officials have advised people to avoid close contact with people who are sick, avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands, to wash hands with water and soap and to visit the civil hospital or nearest primary health centre if they develop any signs or symptoms or in case they want to report any suspected case of Coronavirus.

A health official said that as an outcome of today’s meeting a place has been identified at the SK Roy Civil Hospital for setting up an isolation ward for treating person(s) afflicted with Coronavirus disease. A Rapid Response Team under the Health department is being constituted together with a control room to tackle any situation.

“The Deputy Commissioner have asked everyone to brace themselves for any situation even if there is no risk in Hailakandi district so far,” said Monika Das, District Media Expert. “People have been advised to undergo medical test, if they develop Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases and Influenza Like Illness (ILIs) including COVID-19”, said Das.

Das said Surveillance Workers, ANMs and ASHAs at the field level will closely monitor for any kind of symptoms associated with Coronavirus, including travel history of a person. SP, ADCs, COs, Joint Director, Health Services, Superintendent, SK Roy Civil Hospital, In-charge of PHCs, DPMUs, IDSP and BPMs were present in the meeting. Dr. Arijit Dey, Community Medicine, Silchar Medical College and Hospital sensitized the house about Coronavirus through power point presentation.

Following instructions from Dispur and advisory from Delhi to avoid public gatherings in order to contain the spread of COVID-19, the district administration has decided to cancel all public meetings in the district. The elected representatives as well as other organisers have been advised accordingly in view of this public health emergency. International Women’s Day celebration today has been cancelled by the Social Welfare department in view of Coronavirus.

COVID-19 first identified in Wuhan province of China has so far affected 80 countries, including India. A high alert has been sounded across Assam after a person tested positive for Coronavirus in Bhutan, after travelling from Assam. As many as 127 people who have come in contact with the US tourist are being quarantined.