What PM Modi told states, UTs after a top COVID review meet
He said necessary training should be provided to health workers in the operation of such equipment, and power supply should be ensured for smooth operation of such medical devices. Unlike the first wave of COVID-19 cases last year when rural India was not badly hit, the region has been seriously affected by the second wave in several states
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (May 15) called for augmenting healthcare resources in rural areas to focus on door-to-door testing and surveillance, and said that localised containment strategies are the need of the hour, especially in states with high positivity rate in districts, PTI reported.
Chairing a high-level meeting, Modi said states should be encouraged to report their COVID-19 numbers transparently “without any pressure of high numbers showing adversely on their efforts”, remarks that come amid reports that many states have been under-reporting their case and fatality tallies.
Modi also directed that a distribution plan for ensuring oxygen supply in rural areas should be worked out, including through provision of oxygen concentrators, a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.
He said necessary training should be provided to health workers in the operation of such equipment, and power supply should be ensured for smooth operation of such medical devices. Unlike the first wave of COVID-19 cases last year when rural India was not badly hit, the region has been seriously affected by the second wave in several states.
Prime Minister Modi sought empowering ASHA and anganwadi workers with all necessary tools.
The PMO noted that testing has gone up rapidly in the country, from around 50 lakh tests per week in early March to around 1.3 crore tests per week now.
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Modi was briefed about the gradually decreasing test positivity rate and increasing recovery rate, PMO said, adding that cases had gone over four lakh per day and are now coming down as a result of the efforts of healthcare workers, state and the central governments.
Officials gave a detailed presentation on the state and district level situation of COVID-19 testing, oxygen availability, healthcare infrastructure and vaccination roadmap.
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The PM also took serious note of some reports about ventilators lying unutilised in storage in some states and directed that an immediate audit of installation and operation of ventilators provided by the central government be carried out.
He said that refresher training for properly operating ventilators should be provided to healthcare workers if necessary, the PMO said.