Meeting on reducing preventable Covid deaths held at Tura

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 28, 2021

The Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills, Ram Singh had informed that an emergency meeting of the Committee for Covid Death Audit was held recently in which urgent measures to reduce preventable Covid deaths were discussed.

As discussed during the meeting, it was found that 95 percent of deaths were because of delayed presentation and was tested only at the hospital and that the total number of Covid deaths in the last one week 97% were not vaccinated and delay in seeking health care is becoming an alarming factor in handling the fatality numbers.

He also mentioned that the people are also seeking alternative medicines or visiting information practitioners and getting admitted in hospitals only at a later stage which may have been too late for treatment. It was also mentioned that people who are asymptomatic or even test positive may be allowed to go by themselves to hospitals without waiting for ambulances to ferry them as this would help to simplify the process and de-stigmatise those who test positive to seek early treatment in a way they find convenient and visit the nearest PHC/CHC or hospital of their choice.

Like any other disease, it is now important to make health seeking behaviour for Covid by removing fear and apprehension from the minds of the people since many elderly people have expressed their refusal to test, be declared positive, get admitted and die alone in the hospital without any dignity, he stated.

In this regard, he informed that all the Headmen and Community Leaders would be informed that Covid dead bodies can be taken home after the formalities are completed in the hospitals and give decent burial by following the protocols issued.

Further, the Medical experts also expressed that the burial assistants need not wear full PPE at sites, as long as they are properly masked and no breach happens, that is, being unmasked or near each other.

Moreover, anyone with cold or flu like symptoms lasting more than 5 days should immediately seek medical help at the nearest PHC/CHC or the nearest hospital and those living in remote villages should seek the help of ASHA/ Anganwadi Workers who would facilitate necessary urgent medical help in consultant with Medical and Health Officers concerned.