After reports of suspected H1N1 cases from some areas of the state, Governor NN Vohra today reviewed the preparedness of the Health and Medical Education Department to deal with any arising problem.
The Governor was informed that a control room had been established at the Directorates of Health Services in Jammu and Srinagar and an advisory issued to all districts for sensitisation of health care professionals and paramedics, including ASHAs and anganwadi workers.
The Governor was told that screening and sample collections centres had been established at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Jammu, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, Government Medical College, Srinagar, Government Hospital, Gandhi Nagar, and Government Hospital, Sarwal, for collecting samples of H1N1 suspects. Private laboratories have also been identified for H1N1 testing.
Designated isolation facilities have been established in district and sub-district hospitals, primary health centres and community health centres.
Surveillance desks are being established with special teams, including doctors and paramedics, at identified major entry points such as airports, railway station, and the Lakhanpur check post.
A memorandum of understanding has been signed with the Lal Path Labs for conducting tests of the admitted patients. The testing charges will be borne by the hospital.
At the GMCH, Jammu, out-patient departments to clinically screen the patients have been earmarked at Chopra Nursing Home and Department of Paediatrics at Shri Maharaja Gulab Singh Hospital (SMGS), Jammu.
At SMGS Hospital, the paediatric intensive care unit along with ventilators has been identified to cater to the children admitted with H1N1.
As per the daily situation report on H1N1 status provided by the Secretary, Health and Medical Education, 32 samples of suspected patients have so far been collected in Jammu division, including one on January 29, and in Kashmir Division so far 11 samples have been taken.
Of the 32 collected samples in Jammu division, 23 cases have been found negative, two positive and reports are pending in seven cases. In Kashmir division, of the 11 samples collected, eight have been found negative and reports are pending in three.
After the review meeting, the Governor directed Mandeep Bhandari, Secretary, Health Department, to ensure that adequate supplies of medicines, N95 masks required for healthcare workers and virus transport medium for carrying the samples were urgently procured and distributed to the hospitals units.
Ensure availability of H1N1 medicines; Health Secy
