Chhatrapur: As it is being predicted that the third wave of Covid may hit the state in September, the Ganjam district administration has started health screening of children from Tuesday.
This is said to be the first of its kind drive in the state. It is feared that more children and youths are likely to be affected by the deadly coronavirus in the third wave.
Hence, such a drive has been rolled out, said Collector Vijay Amruta Kulange. During the second wave of the pandemic, the district administration had launched health screening of children June 9.
Health officials, common people and the authorities are now a worried lot as there is no provision for vaccinating children below 18 years of age.
In order to prevent the severity of the third wave, Collector Kulange had issued an SOP a couple of days ago following a directive from the state government.
ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers and Anganwadi assistants made door-to-door visits in various panchayats under Chhatrapur block and conducted health screening of children, said CDPO Krishnakumari Nanda.
The reports of health screening will be given to the ANMs. On the basis of these reports, swabs of sick children will be collected.
If any kid is found Covid positive, he/she will be treated either at home or hospital depending on the decision of the RRT.
Following a directive from the Collector, taskforce committees have been formed at the block and municipal corporation levels. BDOs head the taskforces at the block level while the municipal commissioner heads the taskforce committee at the municipal corporation level.
These committees comprise child specialists, pediatricians, Ayush medical officer, block education officers, CDPOs and other medical officers.
Arrangements for isolation beds have been made at all community health centres, subdivisional hospitals and the district headquarters hospital (DHH). As per a decision, 50 per cent of the beds in SNCUs and NBSUs will be reserved for the Covid patients in the district.
PNN