The latest measures taken by the Jammu Kashmir Administration to mitigate the Covid situation in the Union Territory were already awaited and on expected lines.
The decisions announced on Sunday are just right and at the nick of time, despite much delayed execution of most vital Oxygen plants in the Hospitals of UT after announcing and earmarking the funds in early October last year, Non-preparation and non-augmentation of Medical and other allied departments to be ready for such eventuality, casual approach by the local administration and many other shortcomings.
One can well understand the gravity of the situation available in Jammu Kashmir where Covid-19 has been on a rampage and also that entire paraphernalia of Medical, para-medical, sanitary, Ambulance staff, civil and police administration, essential services and more important all those involved in cremation services are overstretched to the last post in coping with catastrophe.
One positive point noticed this time is that by and large, the people have become more aware of the preventions and precautions. People are scared but wiser in observing the SoPs for which the media (formal and Social) played their important roles.
Curtailing the staff strength in offices with passes; re-enforcement of medicos, medicines and medico-machinery in health infrastructure would prove fruitful in the coming days.
The ‘mopping-up exercise’ by house-to-house verification of health status of symptomatic Covid-19 positive or suspected patients beginning from May 11 during the strict lock-down period is another positive measure that will enable the administration to know the ground reality and for taking further steps to break the Covid infection chain.
The district-wise mopping-up exercise will be undertaken by joint teams of concerned line departments shall essentially consist of local patwari or revenue officials, beat constable, BLO and ANM/ASHA/MPHW of the Health Department. It is good that the supporting staff like a local teacher, Anganwadi worker or Anganwadi supervisor and the ward councillors in Urban and Panches/Sarpanches in rural areas have been roped in to make the exercise more informal.
As proposed, the verification or mopping-up teams would inquire about the general well-being of people, health status of isolated Covid patients, suspected cases, ILI cases and enquire regarding any other co-morbidities.
To streamline the process and to avoid crowd and chaos at Covid care facilities, the government has set up Covid-19 triage facilities at Jammu’s Chest Diseases Hospital, Government Hospital Gandhi Nagar (Old Block), National Institute of Technology Campus at Hazratbal, Srinagar, and SKIMS-JVC in Bemina. These triage facilities will act as an arrival point for screening off any Covid patient intending to get admitted to the government Covid facilities.
Mere announcing and issuing instructions does not bring any change in the situation until and unless the human resources engaged in its execution are motivated and given dedicated leadership and guidance. The operation also requires objective enforcement, monitoring and evaluation.
On the citizens’ part, they are required to restrict their movement and observe SoPs in true spirit. It is also important for the people to cooperate with the survey team by sharing the information correctly and without hesitation to make the exercise result-oriented.
