Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday directed district authorities to ensure a five-bed COVID Care Centre in every panchayat of the Union Territory.
He also approved Rs 1 lakh from the district capex budget for the creation of facilities in schools, community halls and panchayat ghars in consultation with the nearest health centre and panchayat representatives.
In a series of tweets, Sinha directed the deputy commissioners and health department to ensure a COVID care centre in every panchayat of Jammu and Kashmir as many households may not have the option for isolation of COVID positive patients.
“Each Centre to have one oxygen-supported bed for immediate patient care. Rs 1 Lakh approved from District Capex Budget for creation of facilities in School, Community hall or Panchayat ghar in consultation with nearest Health Centre and Panchayat representatives,” Sinha said in the tweets.
The centres would be equipped with necessary medical kits and linked to the nearest health centre. People needing isolation would be identified by the panchayats and concerned medical staff besides ASHA workers, Sinha said.
“Mobile testing vans to be utilised to cover villages for testing with the help of PRIs and volunteers. Medical officers to establish referral linkage with dedicated Covid Health Centres and dedicated Covid Hospitals,” Sinha tweeted.
He said ambulance services in rural areas have oxygen support for safely transporting the patients to COVID-dedicated hospitals.
In view of the emerging situation due to Covid pandemic, the government has intensified Covid-19 response measures in the rural areas, thus strengthening the community healthcare system while continuing to provide other essential health services, observed the LG.
The grass-root level Covid-care facility and effective implementation of containment and clinical management practices will ensure immediate isolation, and subsequent testing and treatment for effective Covid management, he added.
In an earlier meeting of Covid Task Force, the LG had directed the Health department for laying special focus on health infrastructure for managing Covid at rural level with enhanced surveillance, screening, isolation, and referral.
He had outlined the significance of community mobilization for Covid-19 management, behaviour change communication and Covid vaccination of priority groups, in local languages.
“PRIs will play a major role in preventive measures, supporting the families and maintaining coordination with medical and administrative officers at block level. Testing to be increased in rural areas and SDRF funds shall be utilized for rural sanitation drives. The DCs, block medical and development officers to ensure transportation, regular movement of mobile medical units and establishing referral linkage with dedicated Covid health centres and dedicated Covid hospitals,” the LG said.
The DCs have also been advised to utilize the services of officers, who have visited Panchayats during the Back to Village Programme to oversee the development works.
