Expressing concern over high fatality rate among COVID-19 patients in some districts of Maharashtra and Gujarat, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Wednesday asked the states to focus on early surveillance, aggressive contact tracing and early diagnosis to reduce the number of deaths in the areas.
The minister held a high-level meeting with Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Nitinbhai Patel and Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope.
In the meeting, Vardhanstressed on the need for proper interventions like screening and testing ofsevere acute respiratory infections (SARI) and Influenza Like Illness (ILI)cases as this may prevent spread of infection in other areas. “Implementation of effectivecontainment strategy needs be on the top priority of the states to reduce themortality rate. It is the need of the hour to take preventive, pre-emptive andcomprehensive measures in a systematic manner and follow the protocols laiddown by the Centre to prevent occurrence of fresh cases,” he said.
It was pointed out that insome cases, the patients either suppressed the information of their infectionor reported late to the hospitals for treatment, which may be indicative ofsome fear or stigma associated with COVID-19.
Aggressive behaviouralchange and communication exercise need to be taken for removing the stigmaagainst reporting COVID-19, which shall contribute towards timely reporting,clinical management and reduction in fatality rates, the minister stressed.
“This shall also leadto people reporting early for diagnosis and treatment,” he said.
Of the 1,694 fatalities and49,391 cases of coronavirus infections reported till Wednesday morning,Maharashtra tops the tally with 617 fatalities and 15,525 cases followed byGujarat with 368 deaths and 6,245 cases, according to the data provided by theUnion health ministry.
The health ministry had onTuesday said the nationwide COVID-19 case status will be updated on its websiteonly once a day in the morning instead of twice a day as was being donepreviously.
In view of Gujarat andMaharashtra reporting larger number of coronavirus deaths and cases, Vardhansuggested that along with the surveillance teams in containment areas,community volunteers may also be identified at the ward-level to spreadawareness about the preventive measures like hand washing, physical distancingetc.
Some districts such asAurangabad and Pune have done this, he said.
The health ministry wouldprovide full support and handholding to the state governments through theNational Health Mission (NHM) for health systems strengthening as part of theimmediate and long-term measures, the health minister stated.
He also appreciated the moveby some districts where the high-risk population, including the elderly andthose with non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, wereidentified and provided focused treatment.
The Union minister urged thestates to ensure that persons aged more than 65 years having anynon-communicable disease are screened on priority in the Ayushman Bharat-Healthand Wellness Centers.
He also pointed out that incompliance of the guidelines issued by the Centre, non-COVID-19 essentialhealth services such as antenatal care, immunisation drives, Tuberculosis casefinding and treatment, providing blood transfusion for dialysis patients,treatment of cancer patients among others should not be neglected.
Vardhan suggested that thedata available with the states on Health Management Information System (HMIS)for various diseases may be optimally utilised for risk profiling.
He also assured thatadditional teams comprising of officials from the Centre will also be deployedin the states as per their request, adding they may also take support offeredby AIIMS, Delhi for treatment guidance and clinical management of COVID-19patients through the national teleconsultationcentre.
“A single mobile number (+91 9115444155) can be dialed from anywhere in the country by COVID-19 treating doctors to reach the centre,” he informed.