Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 23: Governor N N Vohra today reviewed the action taken by the Health & Medical Education Department to deal with H1N1 Flu in the State.
The situation was reviewed at a high level meeting of the officers.
Following directions of the Governor, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu alongwith Commissioner/Secretary, Health & Medical Education, Director Health Services, Jammu, Director NHM undertook joint visits to the Government Medical College, Jammu and the Government Hospitals at Gandhi Nagar and Sarwal to assess arrangements for handling those reporting to the Hospitals.
Likewise, on the Governor’s instructions, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, along with Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Principal, Government Medical College, Srinagar and Director Health Services, Kashmir, also undertook joint visits to the Srinagar hospitals for taking stock of the situation.
During the meeting held at Raj Bhavan, in which the officers from Kashmir participated through video conferencing, the Governor was informed that the overall situation was gradually stabilizing while a close vigil is being maintained. In the Kashmir Division, out of total 1,23,948 OPD cases during the past one week, 18,409 cases of Acute Respiratory Tract Infections (ARTI) were reported and 14 from various districts tested positive for H1N1. Further, out of 490 samples checked by SKIMS, 138 cases were detected positive and 25 patients were admitted in SKIMS of whom 8 have since been discharged.
A dedicated Respiratory Medicine OPD has been established at SKIMS Attendant Sarai where, on an average, 300 patients are being seen every day. SKIMS has also established a separate 6 bedded ICU with a separate entry. The occupancy of the 32 bed Isolation Ward at SKIMS has been about 40%. SKIMS has received 5800 N-95 Masks, 5000 tablets of Tamiflu and 150 Vaccine shots for immunization of the front line workers.
After taking situation of the stocks of medicines and protective masks and equipments, the Governor spoke to Union Health Minister and Union Health Secretary for rushing additional supplies of VTM, PPE, N95 Masks and medicines. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare assured the Governor that 1000 VTM, 500 PPEs and 1000 N95 Masks shall be provided immediately. Pertinent to mention that the Director Health Services Jammu has already received 11,000 Tamiflu tablets.
It was informed in the meeting that round the clock Control Room is functioning in the Directorate of Health Services, Jammu, and Isolation Wards have been established in all the Hospitals, CHCs and in the Government Hospitals at Gandhi Nagar and Sarwal. Out of 37 samples taken in Jammu Division so far, 5 samples have tested positive. 11 have tested negative while the reports are still awaited in respect of 21 samples.
The Governor directed that all available media should continue to be used for carrying out a sustained campaign to enhance the awareness of the people at large regarding all aspects of the flu so that there is no unnecessary panic or scare.
The Governor has directed the Divisional Commissioners Kashmir and Jammu and all the Deputy Commissioners in both Divisions to be closely involved in flu management arrangements, particularly in dealing with the complaints about non availability and overcharging for masks, medicines etc. He also directed both the Divisional Commissioners and Commissioner/ Secretary, Health to send him a daily situation report after going around the local hospitals every day.
The meeting was attended by P.K. Tripathi, Principal Secretary to Governor; Shantmanu, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Gazanffar Hussain, Commissioner/ Secretary, Health and Medical Education; Dr. Ghanshyam, Principal, Government Medical College, Jammu, Dr. Yashpaul Sharma, Director, NHM, Dr. Bela Mahajan, HoD Microbiology and Dr. Baljeet Pathania, Director, Health Services, Jammu.
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