High-level committee constituted to formulate Action Plan
Blocking infection imperative to check mutations: Experts
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, May 18: As there is all possibility of third wave of COVID in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the Government has constituted a high-level committee for formulation of Action Plan so that all arrangements are put in place to tackle the pandemic in the effective manner.
However, the experts have already suggested the Government to block the spread of infection as early as possible by vaccinating the population on war footing basis as the same is the only option left to make the third wave mild.
The General Administration Department today constituted a committee with Dr M S Khuroo, Ex-Director SKIMS Soura as Chairman and Dr Shakti Gupta, Executive Director and CEO All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) Jammu as its Co-Chairman.
The other members of the committee are Dr A G Ahangar, Director SKIMS Soura, Dr Samia Rashid, Principal Government Medical College Srinagar, Dr Yashpal Sharma, Director (Coordination) New Medical Colleges and Managing Director J&K Medical Supplies Corporation Limited, Dr Yasin Choudhary, Mission Director National Health Mission J&K, Dr Saleem, Head of the Department of PSM, GMC Srinagar, Dr Muzaffer Jan, Head of the Department of Paediatrics GMC Srinagar, Dr Rahul Gupta, Head of the Department of Chest Diseases, GMC Jammu and Dr Khalid, Senior Resident Administrator, Department of Hospital Administration AIIMS Delhi.
The committee has been directed to prepare Action Plan for tackling third wave of COVID-19 pandemic with special focus on preparedness in terms of creation of health infrastructure, enhancement in testing capacities, treatment protocols, arrangement of essential drugs/logistics, machinery and equipments, oxygen supply and manpower etc.
Moreover, the committee has been directed to make suggestions on ramping up COVID hospital beds and Critical Care Units especially for paediatrics/neo-natal age group which is likely to be affected more.
The committee will also make recommendations on strengthening of healthcare/COVID care facilities in the rural areas of the Union Territory and devising additional COVID appropriate behaviour and Standard Operating Procedures and guidelines that are required.
“There is all possibility of third wave of pandemic in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir as infection has not been blocked till date, which otherwise is imperative”, experts told EXCELSIOR, adding “we have already conveyed to the Government that mutations will stop taking place only when new infection is prevented but as on date there seems to be no headway in preventing spread of infection”.
In response to a question, they said, “it is very difficult to predict as to how the virus will behave in the third wave but there are possibilities that it will adversely impact the children”, adding “if we fail to prevent spread of infection the situation is going to be bad in the third wave”.
They further said, “the possibility of virus transmitting from the pregnant woman to foetus also cannot be ruled out”, adding “keeping in view threat of third wave looming large over the population of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir the Government should go in for vaccination on war-footing basis by initiating all possible measures like roping in Army and para-military forces”.
Disclosing that first priority during the third wave would be sequencing of virus samples instead of testing, they said, “we have already conveyed to the Government that there would be necessity of establishing two laboratories each for sequencing purpose in Jammu and Kashmir divisions as keeping proper watch on the pattern of virus and its behaviour would play crucial role in saving the lives”.
“In such a situation we will be in the dire need of those who are experts in conducting sequencing and this aspect should also receive due attention of the Government well in advance so that laboratories are set-up as early as possible”, experts further said and hoped that Government will leave no stone unturned to ensure vaccination of as maximum as possible population in the shortest possible time to make the third wave mild.
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