‘Ensure medicine to cancer patients, axing hazardous Russian poplar trees’
Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan, who is in-charge coronavirus control efforts in Kashmir, convened a meeting here Friday to review measures put in place for prevention and the deadly infection. The meeting was attended by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, P K Pole, IGP Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, all Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of Kashmir, Commissioner SMC and other officers via video-conferencing. IGP Traffic, SSP National Highway, and other officers also attended the meeting. The officers gave a detailed presentation regarding number of langars, shelters established in Kashmir, stock and supply position of essentials, status of areas in red zone, random testing of persons from red zones, distribution of triple layer masks, issues of outside labourers and various other preventive measures. The DCs informed the Advisor that there was no shortage of essentials in their respective districts and lockdown was being strictly imposed and testing of probable coronavirus cases was being done by doctors as per guidelines. The meeting was also informed there was no shortage of triple layer masks and medicines in the Valley. The Advisor was also informed that food items were being provided to non-local labourers also and their health related issues were being taken care of. The meeting also discussed facilities made available at quarantine facilities. The Advisor directed Divisional Commissioner Kashmir to prepare a detailed list of cancer patients, who were in need of medicines so that medicines would be made available to them. The Advisor also told the traffic officials to allow essential commodity trucks to Valley on priority so that supply of essentials would be maintained. He also directed the DCs to increase the number of quarantine rooms with requisite facilities in their respective districts and ensure availability of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff, in case of exigency. The Advisor directed all the DCs to provide doorstep distribution of ration and other essential commodities to the consumers so that people do not suffer. The Advisor directed the DCs to get the banned Russian poplar trees in their respective districts cut, to avoid any health-related problem to people. The meeting was informed that daily surveillance of respiratory tract Infection cases in 10 districts was going on, Rapid Response Teams (RRT) were in place in every district, samples were being collected and data analysed. The meeting was informed about stock position of masks, Personal Protective Equipment, VTMs and other equipment besides functioning of 24×7 district control rooms.
