Kupwara: The Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan, Thursday visited Kupwara to review the COVID-19 Containment Measures (CCM) in the district, besides inspected the COVID Care Centre at Dragmulla.
The Advisor convened a joint meeting of District Administration and Public Representatives and held a threadbare discussion with all the stakeholders regarding COVID-19 containment measures, solicited feedback and suggestions from them.
The Chairman District Development Council (DDC), Irfan Sultan Panditpori; Vice Chairperson, DDC, Haji Farooq Ahmad Mir; Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara, Imam Din; DDC Members; ADDC,Nazir Ahmad Lone; BDC Chairpersons, President MC Kupwara, Handwara and Langate; Officers of the District Administration; Representatives of Traders, Transporters and Religious Leaders attended the meeting.
The Advisor, while deliberating on the COVID pandemic and its ramifications, said that the fight against this dreaded virus is a collaborative effort of local administration and the civil society. He sought cooperation from the participants to tackle the pandemic effectively towards its end. He said during first wave of COVID all stakeholders did their best and wished that during current second COVID wave, which seems to be more dangerous, people as well as Administration need to be more cautious and vigilant.
He said lowering of guard against the pandemic could be highly dangerous. He said government is working tirelessly to deal with the situation in the best possible way but the cooperation of people is more important to register greater success. He asked the religious heads and PRIs to utilize their influence in disseminating information regarding implementation of COVID Appropriate Behavior (CAB) and other required SOPs in letter and spirit to keep the virus at bay. He equally appealed traders, hoteliers and transporters to follow the CAB religiously to curb the ill effects of the Virus.
The Advisor also emphasized the need to disseminate right information for countering the rumors and misconceptions regarding the Pandemic, He said that accurate knowledge about the exact situation is essential to contain this virus.
Baseer Khan said the LG is personally monitoring COVID situation by taking day to day review of the performance of each department. He said the recent decision of LG government regarding establishment of 5 bedded Covid Care Centre in each Panchayat under CAPEX budget is a unique initiative which shall help the people in rural areas, especially those feeling difficulty for isolation due to insufficient accommodation at home.
The Advisor said that the objective of his visit to the district was to personally assess the ground situation. He said the more we follow SOPs religiously and vaccinate ourselves, the early we would get rid of the pandemic. He said our success lies in the balance we need to maintain in implementation of CAB and running of business and other activities. He said Agriculture and allied activities, besides MGNREGA works are taking place normally to provide livelihood to the needy and is personally monitoring progress of wage employment on weekly basis.
On the occasion, the Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara, Imam Din briefed the Advisor about the COVID Containment Measures, in place in the district and said that 109810 persons above 45 year age have been vaccinated in the district so far and the process is continuing to achieve the cent percent target. He said a total of 12,271positive cases have been reported in the district, of which, 10,347 patients have recovered so far. The Deputy Commissioner further informed that Kupwara district recorded 146 deaths so far while as there are 1530 patients under home isolation and 70 are under Hospital isolation as on date.
Regarding bed capacity, the Advisor was informed that there are 500 beds available at Covid Hospital Kupwara, Tanghar ,Langate and other designated hospitals. Of these 500 beds, 350 beds are oxygen supported.
Regarding establishment of COVID Care Centres (CCC), the Advisor was informed that out of 385 Panchayat Halqas , 325 CCC have been activated so far.
The Advisor was informed that at present one new oxygen plant is functioning at Covid Hospital Kupwara with 1000 liter per minute capicity. Other oxygen facilities include 52 concentrators, 254 oxygen cylinders in the district.
The Advisor stressed on the need of massive vaccination saying that adequate stock of vaccine has arrived and the administration should aggressively pursue the inoculation drive. He asked for special testing drive for nomads.
Meanwhile, Advisor reviewed the status of testing being done through RAT and RTPCR and was informed that around 2,65,626 tests including 1,92,675 RAT and 72,951 RTPCR have been conducted till date in the district.
The DC informed the status of tele-medication and said that 24×7 helpline is already functional and a team of dedicated doctors attend the calls and give consultations over the phone which has reduced the influx of patients to the health care centers.
The Chairman DDC , Vice Chairman DDC, DDC members, other PRIs and participants also spoke and projected their demands.
The visiting delegations and representatives of traders, transporters and religious leaders expressed their gratitude to the Advisor for his keenness to reach every corner of the Valley to have on ground assessment of actual situation arisen due to Covid. They also expressed gratitude to Lieutenant Governor for his sincere efforts towards tackling the crisis with added zeal and dedication.
Earlier on way to Kupwara, the Advisor inspected Covid Care Centre at Dragmulla.
