Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Health officials draw up POA to keep Ebola at bay

GANGTOK, 18 Aug [IPR]: A meeting of senior officers of the Health Department was held in the office of the Health Secretary today to discuss the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in West Africa and to formulate a plan of action in Sikkim for prevention and treatment of the disease.
At the outset, the Health Secretary, Dr. K. Bhandari, informed the meeting that there was no case of Ebola Virus Disease in the State and that the meeting was being held as a precautionary measure and to be prepared for, if case of any such outbreak, in the future.
The meeting reviewed and formed the State and District Rapid Response Team (RRT) and included M.O. Melli and M.O. Rangpo in South and East RRT respectively and decided to set up isolation wards at STNM Hospital and the Central Referral Hospital.
The meeting identified PCC cum Superintendent, STNM Hospital as the State-level spokesperson and DMS and DSO, IDSP as district level spokespersons for Ebola Virus disease, and Dr. YD Chankapa, Jt. Director cum SSO, IDSP as the Nodal Officer besides identifying officials responsible for sample collection and transportation.
It was also decided that separate Doctors and nursing personnel for Ebola Isolation Ward will be identified by PCC cum Superintendent, STNM Hospital as and when needed. Further, it was decided that weekly reporting of cases including nil case will be done by Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme division of Health Department at State and District. It was also informed that the information regarding logistic and equipment for collection, transportation, storage and PPE for patient handlers will be provided by EMR Division, Government of India.
The meeting also decided to create awareness amongst the people and has issued an advisory to avoid travel to Ebola Virus Disease affected countries and inform the nearest health centres if anyone coming from Ebola Virus affected countries are found to be ill.

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