Health dept to conduct sensitisation programme in wake of Corona scare

Kolkata/Balurghat: In the wake of growing novel Coronavirus (nCoV) scare in the state, the Health department has decided to carry out sensitisation programme among the paramedical and nursing staff members at the district and sub-divisional hospitals, on how to deal with suspected patients coming to the hospitals.

The Health department will conduct training at the district hospitals where the paramedical and nursing staff members would be sensitised. They would be informed how to tackle the situation if any suspected patients arrive at the hospitals.

The department has already issued notice to all the district and sub-divisional hospitals, asking them to open isolation wards and to take all precautionary measures so that any possible situation can be taken care of.

Instructions have also been issued for the suspected patients to be taken to the isolation wards, where they would be kept under observation for a period of 14 days.

Senior officials at the Swasthya Bhawan are taking feedback from the chief medical officer of health in each district on a regular basis. The state Health department has already sent the Centre's guidelines on nCoV and how to tackle it.

All the district and sub-divisional hospitals have been asked to keep in touch with the Health department. A coordination team has been formed by the department in this regard.

Health officials are constantly monitoring the situation after more than 30 patients tested positive across the country. Not a single case has, however, been reported from Bengal so far.

Health officials are also sending reports to the Union Health Ministry from time to time. Senior officials in the districts have also been instructed by the Health department to circulate leaflets.

Meanwhile, three patients including a woman have been admitted to Beliaghata ID Hospital on Friday morning. According to hospital sources, the woman, originally a resident of Kasba, has returned from Singapore while the two youths are from Beliaghata and Tollygunge area.

One youth is said to have recently returned to the city from Thailand and the other from Kuwait. According to hospital authorities, the patients have been suffering from fever, cough and cold.

The awareness campaign may also be conducted by the district-level health workers against the constant propaganda carried out by a section of people on social media, saying that chickens might have been affected with nCoV.

The Health department has also appealed to the people not to get swayed by the rumours which are being spread by a section of people. It has categorically stated that nCoV is not transmitted through chickens. Not a single case has so far been detected in the state. But some people are getting panicked after being affected with viral fever.

South Dinajpur DM Nikhil Nirmal on Friday held a meeting at the administrative building to review the preparedness to combat any possible situation. "Our main motto is to sensitise people and spread awareness about nCoV. The campaign is done through public address system and distribution of leaflets," Nirmal said.