News Analysis India

Tag: Fighting Covid-19

  • AIIMS prepares for possible COVID-19 third wave, trains nursing staff in pediatric care

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: As part of its efforts to prepare for a third possible COVID-19 wave, nurses at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi are undergoing a three-day training programme at the hospital’s pediatric department.

    The rotational training programme began on July 12 and was done in three batches over three days, sources told ANI. They added that training will be imparted to nurses from all wards of the hospital’s COVID-19 department.

    AIIMS Delhi College of Nursing is coordinating the programme.

    During the devastating second COVID-19 wave earlier this year, the country saw children getting affected, of which a few were severely affected.

    Pediatric departments of hospitals also reported post-COVID symptoms in children, especially MISC (Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children), for which hospitals had to pay special attention.

    A few weeks ago, a joint survey by the WHO and AIIMS found that sero-prevalence was 55.7 per cent in the below 18 years of age group and 63.5 per cent in the 18+ age group.

    A Lancet India Task Force had also earlier commissioned an advisory, highlighting the planning, protocol and policy guidelines for pediatricians, ahead of a likely third wave of Covid-19 that is speculated to impact children.

    The intensive care chapter of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics is also working on training 6,000 pediatricians to tackle adults also for the last six months. Along with this, pediatricians hailing from B-grade towns, C-grade towns and small villages, are also being trained.

    In the last 24 hours, India reported 38,792 new COVID-19 cases, 41,000 recoveries, and 624 deaths, as per the Health Ministry. 

  • Oxfam India joins Chhattisgarh in its battle against Covid

    By Express News Service
    RAIPUR: To add impetus to the ongoing actions of Chhattisgarh government and get better control over the health crisis, the Oxfam India donated medical equipment and Covid-19 relateD supplies in the presence of the health minister T S Singhdeo. 

    Oxfam India will further install two oxygen plants of 570 litre per minute capacity in two hospitals.

    Besides the essential medical emergency deliveries under Mission Sanjeevani, the organisation has also provided medical kits to 35 primary health centres in Chhattisgarh.

    “The support provided by the Oxfam will go to those areas where the needs are greater and the health systems required to be strengthened,” said Singhdeo.

    आज @OxfamIndia ने छ:ग को 570 लीटर के 2 ऑक्सीजन प्लांट व चिकित्सकीय उपकरण प्रदान कर कोविड संघर्ष में अतुलनीय योगदान दिया है।इस दौरान प्रदेशवासियों की ओर से आभार व्यक्त करते हुए श्री @AmitabhBehar जी व टीम की उपस्थिति में अत्यावश्यक सामग्री वाहन को हरी झंडी दिखाकर रवाना किया। pic.twitter.com/G5OzskDs6X
    — TS Singh Deo (@TS_SinghDeo) June 14, 2021

    Oxfam India reiterated its commitment to strengthen the public health system and reach out the most vulnerable communities. “Covid crisis was unprecedented and Chhattisgarh has gone through a very tough time. Oxfam will be delighted to work with the state government so that in the wake of the third wave we can together fight against it strongly,”said Amitabh Behar, CEO (Oxfam India).  

    The organisation also provided community health kits, dry rations besides reaching out to over 400 people from transgender community and the most marginalised communities.

  • Police launch ‘Mask Up Raipur’ campaign, distribute free face masks among locals

    By Express News Service
    RAIPUR: The city police have launched an awareness campaign with the aim of ensuring that all the residents wear the face mask properly. As part of ‘#Mask Up Raipur’ launched by senior superintendent of police Ajay Yadav, the cops are also distributing face masks to those who are found without one. 

    “We have to win the battle against Covid-19. Wearing the mask is a proven simple step to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection. Mask wearing also shows that you care. We are providing people with free masks and telling them to use it in the right way,” Yadav said. 

    In just three days, the Raipur Police have covered the jurisdiction of 32 police stations and distributed 1.32 lakh face masks among the locals. 

    The campaign launched by the city police has gained wide popularity on social media and has created an actual impact as Raipur begins to unlock after reporting a dip in fresh Covid cases. On Sunday, the city reported only 59 cases. 

    Various businesses and voluntary organisations have extended their support to the Raipur Police in their mission to fight Covid-19.

  • Bringing treatment to doorsteps of patients will reduce burden on health system: PM Modi

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that bringing treatment to the doorsteps of patients will reduce the burden on the health system and he also provided a new mantra in COVID management – ‘Jaha bimar, wahi upchaar’.

    The Prime Minister, while interacting with doctors and officials of Varanasi today through video conference, hailed the initiatives taken.

    “Creating micro containment zones and distributing medicines at the doorstep of the people is a good initiative. We have to follow the initiative comprehensively in villages,” the PM said.

    “Bringing doctors, labs and e-marketing companies together to provide a telemedicine facility named ‘Kashi Kavach’ is also a very innovative initiative,” he said.

    The Prime Minister emphasized the important role played by ASHA and ANM workers in the war against COVID-19 in the villages and urged the health officials to take maximum advantage of their potential and experience.

    The Prime Minister, during the video conference, lauded Varanasi for fighting efficiently against the second wave of the COVID-19 crisis.

    PM Modi also reviewed the working of various COVID hospitals in Varanasi including Pandit Rajan Mishra COVID Hospital, which was recently started through the joint efforts of DRDO and the Indian Army. 

  • Centre invites applications from startups, companies for developing new tech to tackle Covid-19 wave

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: The Department of Science and Technology has invited applications from startups and companies for developing new technologies and innovative products to tackle the second wave of Covid-19.

    “As a rapid response to support startup-driven solutions for tackling the current challenging, second wave of COVID 2.0 in the country, Indian startups and companies have been invited to apply for developing new technologies and innovative products that can enable our country to fight the crisis,” read an official release by the Ministry of Science and Technology.

    NIDHI4COVID2.0, a new initiative under which the companies can apply, will fund eligible startups and companies registered in India offering promising solutions in the thrust areas of oxygen innovation, portable solution, relevant medical accessories, diagnostic, informatics, or any other solution that addresses/mitigate various challenges faced by country/society due to the severe impact of Covid-19.

    The initiative is a special drive of the National Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India (GoI) for supporting indigenous solutions and innovative products to combat the crisis that the country is currently facing due to the pandemic.

    Development and manufacturing (import substitution) of the products parts currently being imported for the devices like Oxygen Concentrators and so on would also be considered for Seed Support through DST supported network of Technology Business Incubators (TBIs).

    Promising startups will be provided with financial and mentoring support for scaling up their products/technologies to the next level and speeding up their processes, helping them reach the product deployment stage as fast as possible.

    This initiative has been built based on NSTEDB’s past experience of implementing Centre for Augmenting WAR with Covid-19 Health Crisis (CAWACH) and also through special calls through National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations – Seed Support System (NIDHI – SSS) from Technology Business Incubators (TBI) to support startups in 2020.

    “Supporting development of devices like Oxygen Concentrators also brings with it huge opportunities in the development and manufacturing of several critical components that are being imported such as specialized valves, zeolite materials, oil-less and noiseless miniaturized compressors, gas sensors, etc. which have wider applications in several sectors,” said Prof Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, DST.

    In the current situation, startups can play a major role in bringing new technologies and products in the market, thus making our country stronger at various fronts against the ongoing war on COVID. Some of the startups already have promising technologies but need mentoring, financial, and marketing support to go to the next level. Thus, DST’s attempt through this new initiative is to scout and support deserving startups with much-needed support to scale up their technologies, helping them reach the product deployment stage as fast as possible. 

  • Cylinder waali bitiya: Shahjahanpur’s daughter who helps everyone with oxygen

    By PTI
    SHAHJAHANPUR: Breathing hope into the lives of people in need of oxygen amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, 26-year-old Arshi has earned the sobriquet of “cylinder waali bitiya” — the daughter with the oxygen cylinder.

    What began as a struggle to procure the life-saving gas for her coronavirus positive father, who managed to beat the viral disease, has now turned into a mission to save as many lives as possible in this district and those around it including the neighbouring state of Uttarakhand.

    Perched atop her trusted companion — a scooter — the young woman, a resident of Madaar Khel locality in Shahjahanpur, has so far distributed around 20 oxygen cylinders for free and is helped by her two brothers and some other associates.

    Recalling the beginning of her philanthropic journey, Arshi said on the first day of Ramzan, the condition of her father Mashoor, who was not keeping well, began deteriorating and her worst fears came true when he tested positive for COVID-19.

    While in home isolation, his oxygen levels started falling and the doctor asked me to arrange an oxygen cylinder.

    However, when I approached the authorities, I was told that patients in home isolation cannot get oxygen cylinders and was advised to get my father admitted to a hospital, according to Arshi.

    “Despite moving from pillar to post, I was not able to arrange a cylinder.

    As desperation grew, I somehow managed to get one from the office of the city magistrate,” Arshi told PTI.

    “I then came in contact with a social organisation based in Uttarakhand through WhatsApp which provided oxygen for my father and he subsequently recovered from the illness,” she added.

    After this incident, I realised what families of COVID patients needing oxygen must be going through, she said.

    “Ever since, anyone who sought oxygen either through phone or WhatsApp was helped.

    I have provided oxygen to several people in Shahbad and Hardoi (UP) and Uttarakhand,” the 26-year-old said, adding that she does not charge any money.

    The young woman has received many laurels for her heroic actions not only from those whom she has helped but also the state’s politicians.

    Shahjahanpur district president of Samajwadi Party Tanveer Khan said Arshi has embarked on a mission to provide oxygen cylinders to those who need it.

    “Amidst the COVID-19, Arshi is doing a historic work, without caring for her own life,” Khan told PTI.

    Showering praises on Arshi, local resident Syed Naved said the woman provided him with three oxygen cylinders for his COVID-19 positive father.

    “May Allah fulfil all her wishes,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Shahjahanpur Chief Medical Officer S P Gautam said there was no shortage of oxygen in the district and stressed that the life-saving gas was being provided to COVID-19 patients who are in home isolation.

    “There is no shortage of oxygen in the district, and oxygen is available in the hospitals.

    Apart from this, people who are COVID-19 infected and are in home isolation, oxygen cylinders are being provided to them by the city magistrate,” he said.

  • Maharashtra CM asks family doctors to join fight against COVID-19

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday appealed to doctors who serve as family physicians to join the state’s fight against COVID-19 and advise their patients under home isolation about the right treatment protocols.

    During a virtual interaction with private medical practitioners and members of the state COVID-19 task force, Thackeray said patients trust their family doctors more than anyone else.

    “The treatment protocols of COVID-19 patients in home isolation can be managed more effectively if their family physicians join the battle against the viral infection,” the chief minister said.

    He said family physicians can evaluate the COVID-19 patient’s condition, co-morbidities and oxygen level during home isolationand guide them effectively regarding the need for hospitalisation.

    “If the asymptomatic patients in home isolation are treated effectively,it would help reduce the COVID-19 mortality rate,” he said.

    He said family doctors should also take into account the increasing sugar level of COVID-19 patients and how it can be restricted.

    He appealed to family doctors in the state to join the COVID-19 care centres in their vicinity as consultants.

    Maharashtra’s COVID-19 task force member Sanjay Oak stressed on the need to ensure hygiene in oxygen pipes and concentrators as well as during home quarantineof patients with uncontrolled co-morbidities to prevent other infections.

    Another task force member Shashank Joshi spoke about how home care was crucial and of critical importance for patients.

    Thackeray had last week also stressed on the role of private doctors, specially family physicians, in the fight against COVID-19, saying they can help in early diagnosis of the infection in their patients and facilitate timely treatment for them.

    On Saturday, Maharashtra reported 34,848 new cases of COVID-19, taking the tally to 53,44,063, while 960 deaths pushed the toll to 80,512, as per the state health department.

  • Jharkhand journalists to get COVID vaccine on priority

    Express News Service
    RANCHI: Journalists in Jharkhand will be administered the COVID-19 vaccine on priority basis. In a letter issued to all deputy commissioners by the National Health Mission Director, they have been directed to get all journalists vaccinated so that they fulfill their responsibilities ‘fearlessly’.

    “Since journalists belonging to the print and electronic media have to do extensive fieldwork for collection and publication of news, they need to be immunised in a proper way. Therefore, it is required to get them vaccinated on priority basis,” the letter stated. 

    Journalists in the state as well as political leaders cutting across party lines have been demanding that the former be declared as frontline workers and must get the vaccine at the earliest.