Preemptive measures in place to deal with nCoV threat: Dulloo

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 7: Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education Department, Atal Dulloo reviewed the preemptive measures taken by the Health and Medical Education Department to deal with the threat of Coronavirus (nCoV), at a meeting of senior functionaries and health officials, here today.
The measures taken include establishment of isolation wards, stocking of Personal Protection Equipment, N95 masks, triple layer masks, hand sanitizers, while the sample of suspected cases would be sent to outside J&K for testing.
Advising officers to be extra vigilant, the FC said that established protocol needs to be followed in handling all suspected cases. “Proper care needs to be taken to avoid intermingling of suspected cases, if any,” he directed the concerned, while asking them to keep close watch on the patients with matching symptoms and follow Standard Operating procedure (SoP) strictly.
The FC issued directions for collection of samples from the suspected cases at the Medical Colleges of Anantnag, Baramulla, Doda, Rajouri and Kathua, besides other established facilities. He also said that samples should be sent for testing as soon as they are collected to prevent any unnecessary delay.
He also asked the Chief Medical Officers to keep isolation wards ready with all the machinery and manpower in place to face any eventuality.
Noting that the situation is to be closely and regularly monitored by the officers on a daily basis, Financial Commissioner stressed on spreading community awareness with surveillance through Information Education and Communication strategy, including putting hoardings, distribution of pamphlets and informing people about do’s and don’ts through print and electronic media. He also laid stress on training of Medical Officers and paramedical staff to intimate them about Standard Operating Procedure (SoP). Proper disposal of biomedical waste related to the coronavirus was also stressed upon.
The FC was informed that more space is being identified and isolation wards have been made ready to handle suspected cases.
It was also given out in the meeting that people, who have arrived from China, have been screened and were found to be asymptomatic. The suspected cases so far in Jammu and Kashmir have tested negative and have been advised home quarantine.
The meeting was attended by Director Health Services, Jammu, Renu Sharma; Director New Medical Colleges, Yashpal Sharma; Principal, Government Medical College, Jammu, Sunanda Raina; Principal GMC Doda, Tariq Azad; Director Family Welfare, Arun Sharma; Joint Director (Planning) H&ME, Madan Lal and other officers.
Director SKIMS A G Ahanger; Principal, Government Medical College, Srinagar Parvaiz Ahmad Shah; Chief Medical Officers and other officials from Kashmir division attended the meeting through video conferencing.
Meanwhile, Atal Dulloo also attended a video conference held by Union Health and Family Welfare Secretary, Preeti Sudan with officers from states and Union Territories , to review preparedness for management of nCov.

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