Cabinet Secy takes stock of states’ preparedness
20 Feb 2015 12:27 AM GMT
The Narendra Modi government at the Centre has finally woken up to the spread of swine flu. The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth on Thursday reviewed the latest situation arising due to H1N1 virus.
The country has witnessed 703 fatalities due to influenza since January 1 to February 18. At the review meeting, the Cabinet Secretary sought a detailed action taken plan from states on the shortage of drugs, diagnostic kits and any other logistics.
The Chief Secretaries and medical heads of states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi informed Seth about the availability of drugs, testing kits, diagnostic labs, personal protective equipment (PPE), masks etc., in their states.
Though, the states have reported that they have adequate number of medicines and other logistics support, the ground reality is very different.
It has come to light that there is a shortage of testing kits, drugs in the districts of Alwar, Sikar, Nagaur, Jaipur, Jodhpur, in Rajasthan. The states of Maharashtra, and Haryana have requested for some additional medicines to augment their emergency stock. The Cabinet Secretary stressed that the states should ensure that the outbreak monitoring cells and necessary helplines function round-the-clock and drug controllers should ensure availability of necessary medicines.
The latest data show that Rajasthan has reported maximum 1912 deaths out of 3,648 cases, followed by Gujarat with 167 deaths out of 2,191 cases, while cumulative cases in the eight weeks of this year has crossed 11,000 figure.
The country has witnessed 703 fatalities due to influenza since January 1 to February 18. At the review meeting, the Cabinet Secretary sought a detailed action taken plan from states on the shortage of drugs, diagnostic kits and any other logistics.
The Chief Secretaries and medical heads of states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi informed Seth about the availability of drugs, testing kits, diagnostic labs, personal protective equipment (PPE), masks etc., in their states.
Though, the states have reported that they have adequate number of medicines and other logistics support, the ground reality is very different.
It has come to light that there is a shortage of testing kits, drugs in the districts of Alwar, Sikar, Nagaur, Jaipur, Jodhpur, in Rajasthan. The states of Maharashtra, and Haryana have requested for some additional medicines to augment their emergency stock. The Cabinet Secretary stressed that the states should ensure that the outbreak monitoring cells and necessary helplines function round-the-clock and drug controllers should ensure availability of necessary medicines.
The latest data show that Rajasthan has reported maximum 1912 deaths out of 3,648 cases, followed by Gujarat with 167 deaths out of 2,191 cases, while cumulative cases in the eight weeks of this year has crossed 11,000 figure.
Next Story
