BY SHYAM ZAMBAULIKER | NT NETWORK
The south Goa district administration has stepped up preventive measures following the death of a woman due to swine flu and reports of a spread of fever.
The South Goa collector, Mr G P Naik informed that districts medical officers have been instructed to take all necessary steps to check the spread of any communicative disease. Panchaytas and municipalities have also been alerted on the matter and have been asked to convene meetings to prepare programmes to tackle any situation. Recently, a woman from Margao succumbed to the swine flu virus.
Vigilance has been increased at airports to check whether passengers have the virus. Screening of all foreign nationals who came to Goa has already begun. State surveillance officer for swine flu, Dr Jose De Sa informed that the situation is such that the virus is in circulation all over the country. He stressed on the need for early detection and prompt treatment. He said that any patient showing swine flu like symptoms should go to the doctor and if they do not recover with initial treatment they should go again for a follow-up treatment. Dr De Sa further added that this year, surveillance mechanisms have been extended to the private sector. He said that educational institutions should concentrate on keeping a check on the health of school children and pointed out that educational institutions have been requested to comply with guidelines issues by the ministry for health. He added that the GMC is well-equipped to handle any medical emergency like swine flu
Dr De Sa warned that during the coming festival season, people must avoid traveling to crowded places and areas where swine flu is reported. He said that so far in Goa, 40 persons have been confirmed to have had swine flu and this confirmation has come from National Center for Disease Control, Delhi. He said that out of these 40 persons who have been confirmed with swine flu, 26 are from south Goa while 14 are from north Goa. According to him, 15 cases have been conformed from Salcete while 7 cases have been reported from Mormugao, 2 from Quepem and 2 from Sanguem. He also said that in Tiswadi, 9 cases were reported, 3 in Ponda and 2 in Bardez.
Dr Geeta Kakodkar from the urban heath center and the nodal officer for swine flu information and mass awareness programme for south Goa said that she was in constant contact with all the primary heath centers who have been asked to draw an action plan and submit a report. She said that the report submitted by the primary heath centers over the plan of action has been submitted to south Goa collector and directorate of health services.
She said that on an average, 20 workers visit houses every day to gather information regarding cases of fever and these surveys conducted helps the authorities to take appropriate steps. She said that schools have been provided with posters on swine flu and its prevention and guidelines have been issued to heads of the educational institutions. She said that the awareness programme conducted by them has evoked a good response.
A doctor at the Margao Hospicio hospital said that swine flu is basically a disease caused by the H1N1 virus that infects pigs. The disease spreads H1N1 infected pigs to humans. The virus then transfers from one human another. Swine flu is curable. However he said that prevention is always better than cure.
Mr Naik informed that in south Goa, a district action plan programme as been created to create awareness among the people. The programme will be conducted in phases. He said that he has issued the orders to heath officers and deputy collectors from south Goa to coordinate with each other and conduct awareness programmes in areas identified by municipalities and panchayats.
Sources at the south Goa education office at Margao informed that the additional collector, Mr Yeshwant Tavde has sent a circular to all heads of educational institutions to follow the stated guidelines. The south Goa district administration has set up a cell to tackle cases of swine flu.
School have been advised not to take students for excursions the affected countries and states and in case students has already visited affected countries and states, then on their return, if the students show flu like symptoms, the students should be advised to abstain from attending school and be allowed to stay at home for a period of 7 to 10 days.
Meanwhile the department of education has decided to take stern action against those schools, which have ignored the circular issued by the department.
As a part of these guidelines, the schools had been directed to discontinue the assembly session; however, it has been observed that many of the schools were not only conducting assembly sessions, but also organising events, which required students to gather in groups.
Taking strong view of this situation, the director of education is contemplating action against the educational institutions, which have ignored its directions. The education department has also organised taluka level meetings of school headmasters and principals to discuss the issue of prevention of swine flu.
The circular was issued by the education department after observing an increase in the number of cases of swine flue in the state. This season, around 20 persons have been confirmed has having contracted H1N1, while one person has fallen victim to it. Though the epidemic has not spread in schools, a number of persons in some of the talukas such as Salcete are suspected to be suffering from swine flu. It may be recalled that last year, when the illness had made its appearance in the state, the government had taken a decision to extend the Ganesh Chaturthi holidays by another week.
