SRINAGAR: Holding a press conference here the Srinagar administration Tuesday briefed the media about the measures it is taking in efforts to contain the spread of the coronovirus infection in the district.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary flanked by Director SKIMS Dr. AG Ahangar, Director Health Services Kashmir Dr. Sameer Matoo, OSD to Financial Commissioner Health Owais Ahmad and HOD Community Medicine GMC Srinagar Dr Mohammad Saleem chaired the press conference.
Director SKIMS Dr AG Ahangar highlighted the deadliness and great transmission capabilities of the coronavirus infection and emphasised the critical importance of taking precautions and practicing social distancing at all costs.
He explained that distancing helps break the chain of transmission which is critical to containing its spread and urged one and all to practice it along with all other precautions like frequent hand-washing and coughing and sneezing etiquettes.
Giving details of medical-care efforts that SKIMS is involved in in this regard he said that 12 out of 30 suspected Covid-19 patients have been discharged from the institution after successful treatment so far adding with happiness that the first positive case from the district – a woman from old city area – his recovering and doing very well although she will remain under medical supervision for the recommended period.
He said the institution has a 30-bedded quarantine and 10-bedded isolation facilities as of now adding that their capacities are being enhanced to 50-bedded quarantine and 20-bedded isolation. He also said that more ventilators are also being acquired as part of strengthening of facilities for treatment purposes in the institution.
Giving details about testing he said that 57 samples have been tested for coronavirus at SKIMS so far since the facility was made available at the institution adding that 55 of them have tested negative for the virus.
Dr Shahid said that while SKIMS has a robust healthcare mechanism in place it cannot be possible to deal with it if the virus is allowed to spread. Citing Italy which has one of the most advanced healthcare systems in the world as an example he said no healthcare system is capable of handling the load if it grows too big adding that the example explains the need for serious measures for taking precautions to curb the spread of the infection.
He urged one and all to join hands with the administration in this fight against humanity appealing for staying home to be safe for one’s own safety and that of others. He also urged to avoid following unverified advice and taking unprescribed medication appealing for following only government advisories and the WHO guidelines and recommendations.
OSD to FC Health Owais Ahmad briefed the media about the overall efforts of the health department to enhance its preparedness to deal with the emerging situation because of this infection. He said the department is procuring all required equipment and supplies for effective handling of this health situation.
He said that health department is also in the process of establishing more isolation facilities for treatment of patients that might get affected adding that all other requisites are also being acquired and made available as part thereof. He however stressed the importance of containing the spread of this infection in order for the healthcare apparatus to be able to deal with it.
Dr Shahid while concluding the press briefing appealed to the general public to cooperate with the administration and assist it in its efforts to break the chain of transmission and contain spread of this infection. He made a special appeal to those with travel histories to come forward to be assessed for quarantine requirement and to mosques and other places of worship to be administration’s messengers and sensitize the general public about the importance of distancing and other precautions in these difficult times.
