Tag: Awareness

  • Rise in Covid cases: Government planning nationwide drill to take stock of hospital preparedness

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Amid rising cases of COVID-19 and seasonal influenza, the government is planning a nationwide mock drill on April 10 and 11 to take stock of hospital preparedness.

    According to a joint advisory issued by the Union Health Ministry and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Saturday, both public and private health facilities in all districts are expected to participate in the exercise aimed at taking stock of the availability of medicines, hospital beds, medical equipment and medical oxygen.

    The exact details of the mock drill shall be communicated to the states in the virtual meeting scheduled on March 27, the advisory stated.

    The joint advisory highlighted that in the past several weeks, COVID-19 testing has declined in some states and the current testing levels are insufficient as compared to the standards prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO), i.e 140 tests per million.

    ALSO READ | India reports 1,590 new COVID cases in last 24 hours

    Testing at the levels of districts and blocks also varies, with some states heavily relying on the less sensitive rapid antigen tests.

    “Hence it is critical to maintain optimum testing for COVID-19, equitably distributed (with suitable modifications to address emergence of a new cluster of Covid cases) across the states.

    This is especially important to identify any emerging hotspots and take pre-emptive steps to curb virus transmission,” it stated.

    The joint advisory is in continuation of the Union Health Ministry’s earlier communications dated March 10 and 16 on the issue of seasonal circulation of pan-respiratory pathogens in the country as well as public health response to COVID-19 in states and Union territories.

    The advisory signed by Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan and Director General of ICMR Dr Rajiv Bahl stated that a gradual but sustained increase in the trajectory of COVID-19 cases in the country is being witnessed since mid-February.

    As on date, most of the active COVID-19 cases in the country are largely being reported by a few states like Kerala (26.4 per cent), Maharashtra (21.7 per cent), Gujarat (13.9 per cent), Karnataka (8.6 per cent) and Tamil Nadu (6.3 per cent).

    “While the rates of hospitalization and death due to the disease remain low, largely because of the significant coverage achieved in terms of COVID-19 vaccination rates by all states and UTS, this gradual rise in cases needs reinvigorated public health actions to contain the surge,” the advisory said.

    The states and UTs have been asked too keep a close watch on the evolving etiologies (causes of diseases) of Influenza Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases, adding India usually sees a seasonal rise in Influenza cases from January to March and again from August to October.

    Currently, the most prominent subtypes of Influenza in circulation in the country seem to be Influenza A (H1N1) and Influenza A (H3N2).

    ALSO READ | No increase in hospitalisation rate or death amid spike in Covid cases: Health Ministry

    “As you may be aware, COVID-19 and Influenza share a number of similarities in terms of mode of transmission, high risk population, clinical signs and symptoms.”

    “While this may present a clinical dilemma for the attending doctors in terms of diagnosis, this also renders both these diseases easily preventable by following simple public health measures like avoiding overcrowded and poorly ventilated settings, using handkerchief/tissue while sneezing or coughing, wearing a mask in crowded and closed settings, maintaining hand hygiene, avoiding spitting in public places, etc,” the advisory mentioned.

    The Union Ministry of Health has already issued detailed guidelines for the management of co-infection of COVID-19 with other seasonal epidemic-prone diseases.

    All states and UTs have been advised to disseminate these guidelines to all health facilities and healthcare workers within the state to help in clinical case management.

    “Under Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), states and District IDSP units need to closely follow the trend of ILI/SARI, monitor the proportion of SARI cases among all ILI and SARI cases, and refer a sufficient number of samples for testing for Influenza and SARS-CoV-2,” the joint advisory stated.

    It would also be helpful for all states and UTS to undertake a re-orientation of frontline health workers on epidemiological case definitions to help with early diagnosis and prompt treatment.

    The advisory stated in order to limit transmission of these diseases, it is important to raise community awareness regarding adherence to respiratory and hand hygiene particularly, avoiding overcrowded and poorly ventilated settings, particularly by co-morbid, wearing of masks by doctors, paramedics and other healthcare works as well as patients and their attendants within health care facilities.

    “It would also be useful to take stock of hospital preparedness including drugs, beds including ICU beds, medical equipment, medical oxygen, capacity building of human resources on existing guidelines as well as vaccination coverage.

    To this effect, a nationwide mock drill is being planned on 10th and 11th April 2023, wherein health facilities (both public and private) from all districts are expected to participate,” the joint advisory read.

    NEW DELHI: Amid rising cases of COVID-19 and seasonal influenza, the government is planning a nationwide mock drill on April 10 and 11 to take stock of hospital preparedness.

    According to a joint advisory issued by the Union Health Ministry and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Saturday, both public and private health facilities in all districts are expected to participate in the exercise aimed at taking stock of the availability of medicines, hospital beds, medical equipment and medical oxygen.

    The exact details of the mock drill shall be communicated to the states in the virtual meeting scheduled on March 27, the advisory stated.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The joint advisory highlighted that in the past several weeks, COVID-19 testing has declined in some states and the current testing levels are insufficient as compared to the standards prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO), i.e 140 tests per million.

    ALSO READ | India reports 1,590 new COVID cases in last 24 hours

    Testing at the levels of districts and blocks also varies, with some states heavily relying on the less sensitive rapid antigen tests.

    “Hence it is critical to maintain optimum testing for COVID-19, equitably distributed (with suitable modifications to address emergence of a new cluster of Covid cases) across the states.

    This is especially important to identify any emerging hotspots and take pre-emptive steps to curb virus transmission,” it stated.

    The joint advisory is in continuation of the Union Health Ministry’s earlier communications dated March 10 and 16 on the issue of seasonal circulation of pan-respiratory pathogens in the country as well as public health response to COVID-19 in states and Union territories.

    The advisory signed by Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan and Director General of ICMR Dr Rajiv Bahl stated that a gradual but sustained increase in the trajectory of COVID-19 cases in the country is being witnessed since mid-February.

    As on date, most of the active COVID-19 cases in the country are largely being reported by a few states like Kerala (26.4 per cent), Maharashtra (21.7 per cent), Gujarat (13.9 per cent), Karnataka (8.6 per cent) and Tamil Nadu (6.3 per cent).

    “While the rates of hospitalization and death due to the disease remain low, largely because of the significant coverage achieved in terms of COVID-19 vaccination rates by all states and UTS, this gradual rise in cases needs reinvigorated public health actions to contain the surge,” the advisory said.

    The states and UTs have been asked too keep a close watch on the evolving etiologies (causes of diseases) of Influenza Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases, adding India usually sees a seasonal rise in Influenza cases from January to March and again from August to October.

    Currently, the most prominent subtypes of Influenza in circulation in the country seem to be Influenza A (H1N1) and Influenza A (H3N2).

    ALSO READ | No increase in hospitalisation rate or death amid spike in Covid cases: Health Ministry

    “As you may be aware, COVID-19 and Influenza share a number of similarities in terms of mode of transmission, high risk population, clinical signs and symptoms.”

    “While this may present a clinical dilemma for the attending doctors in terms of diagnosis, this also renders both these diseases easily preventable by following simple public health measures like avoiding overcrowded and poorly ventilated settings, using handkerchief/tissue while sneezing or coughing, wearing a mask in crowded and closed settings, maintaining hand hygiene, avoiding spitting in public places, etc,” the advisory mentioned.

    The Union Ministry of Health has already issued detailed guidelines for the management of co-infection of COVID-19 with other seasonal epidemic-prone diseases.

    All states and UTs have been advised to disseminate these guidelines to all health facilities and healthcare workers within the state to help in clinical case management.

    “Under Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), states and District IDSP units need to closely follow the trend of ILI/SARI, monitor the proportion of SARI cases among all ILI and SARI cases, and refer a sufficient number of samples for testing for Influenza and SARS-CoV-2,” the joint advisory stated.

    It would also be helpful for all states and UTS to undertake a re-orientation of frontline health workers on epidemiological case definitions to help with early diagnosis and prompt treatment.

    The advisory stated in order to limit transmission of these diseases, it is important to raise community awareness regarding adherence to respiratory and hand hygiene particularly, avoiding overcrowded and poorly ventilated settings, particularly by co-morbid, wearing of masks by doctors, paramedics and other healthcare works as well as patients and their attendants within health care facilities.

    “It would also be useful to take stock of hospital preparedness including drugs, beds including ICU beds, medical equipment, medical oxygen, capacity building of human resources on existing guidelines as well as vaccination coverage.

    To this effect, a nationwide mock drill is being planned on 10th and 11th April 2023, wherein health facilities (both public and private) from all districts are expected to participate,” the joint advisory read.

  • World Cycle Day, Pramod Dubey made people aware of vaccination by cycling

    On the occasion of World Cycle Day, Municipal Corporation President Pramod Dubey, NSUI President Amit Sharma along with Councilor Uttam Sahu made people aware about vaccination by reaching home through cycles.
    To get the vaccine, the only way to get rid of corona, went to the square and the market and appealed to the people to apply the vaccine.
    During this, Mrityunjay Shukla, Manish Tiwari, Sewa Sahu, Govardhan Sahu and others shared the benefits of cycling among people following the Corona guidelines and keeping their vehicle at home for one day on the 3rd of every month and working from public transport. While administering the oath to all, Uttam Sahu, the councilor of the ward, told the people of the ward the benefits of getting the vaccine. This campaign of 61st No Vehicle Day was stopped due to Corona, which has been started again from today. Now this campaign will be run for public awareness on 3rd of every month.

  • National Road Safety Month: Public awareness campaign against traffic rules

    With a view to bringing public awareness to the observance of traffic rules, a special campaign for National Road Safety Month is being conducted by Traffic Police Raipur. The one-month campaign, which started from January 18, will run till February 17. Earlier, National Road Safety Week was celebrated in the rains. Its duration has been increased, so that the public mind can become more aware of the traffic rules. Human life is precious, so we should understand the importance of life. All the people using the road are required to follow the traffic rules for the safety of life. Road accidents happen by not following traffic rules. The youth group is affected the most in these accidents. Improvement in traffic engineering, education, enforcement, emergency is being done continuously with the joint efforts of Traffic Police, Public Works Department, National Highway Department, Municipal Corporation, Education and Health Department to prevent road accidents. Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh, is located in the middle of the state. The borders of the capital Raipur touch the districts of Durg, Dhamtari, Mahasamund, Gariaband, Balodabazar and Bemetara. National Raj Roads 53 and 30 pass through the capital Raipur. The only national airport of Chhattisgarh is located in Raipur district. Due to being the capital, the movement of specific people from other states and the center remains constant. The population of Raipur district is about 22 lakhs and the number of registered vehicles is about 16 lakhs. After the formation of the capital, along with the rapid industrialization and expansion of cities, development in the field of education, traffic pressure has increased significantly in Raipur city. Widening of roads is necessary for a simple, easy and orderly traffic system, while traffic education is very important in today’s perspective. Raipur Police is constantly trying to reduce road accidents, make common citizens aware of traffic and make traffic system smooth. The capital Raipur is poised to become a smart city, smart traffic. Hitech cameras have been installed in various square intersections along with smart signals under the ITMS system in the city, with the operation of which the traffic system is being improved and continuous action is taken against violators of traffic rules.