The Cabinet Secretary Shri Ajit Seth chaired a high level meeting here today (16.10.2014) to review the state of preparedness in the context of emerging global crisis on Ebola. In a video conferencing with Chief Secretaries/ Health Secretaries of 19 states/UTs which have international airport/ seaport, he took stock of the measures being undertaken for strengthening the preparedness, surveillance and response system in the respective states.
Health Secretary, Home Secretary, Shipping Secretary and Secretaries/ representatives of D/o Health Research, Civil Aviation and External Affairs were also present.
The protocol/ preparedness measures including infection control practices to be followed by the States/UTs have already been communicated to the states. The state Governments informed during the meeting that these protocols have been put in place and all inbound passengers are being screened.
Till 15.10.2014, 22150 passengers have been screened of which 7 were identified to be at medium risk and 56 at high risk while the others were categorised at low risk. Low risk passengers are given general advice on the virus while medium and high risk passengers are kept under observation for a further period of 30 days and their blood samples tested. A tracking system has been put in place under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP). No case of Ebola has so far been reported in the country although WHO has reported about 9000 cases and 4493 deaths globally.
State Governments informed that in accordance with the protocol, they have identified hospitals and isolation ward for Ebola treatment. Central teams have been asked to inspect the adequacy of preparations in these hospitals. A training of trainers is being organised by the Health Ministry from 19th-21st October, 2014 at Delhi. This training will include demonstrations and mock drills.
National Institute of Virology at Pune is fully equipped to handle the testing work relating to Ebola virus and the National Centre for Diseases Control (NCDC), Delhi, for molecular diagnosis. 10 other laboratories in various places including Delhi, Dibrugarh, Port Blair, Kolkata, Manipal, Lucknow, Guwahati, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Thiruvananthapuram, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Jaipur and Agra will be strengthened to handle this work..
Immigration officers have been trained and crew members of flights have also been sensitised on the measures to be taken by the airline crew and on the standard operating procedures for passenger screening at the airports by Airport Health Organisations. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has been asked to make inflight announcement regarding the virus and its symptoms. A health screening card and advisory for passengers has also been prepared and information is being collected from the passengers arriving from/transiting through the affected countries. The Chief Secretaries were requested to have proper liaison and coordination is maintained by the State health authorities with the airports. State Governments have been asked to maintain coordination with all ports, including the minor ports, so that ship crew are also screened properly.
Some State Governments expressed the need for supply of adequate number of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) gear. 50,000 PPE gear procured earlier and available with the Central Government will be distributed to the States. State Governments have also been advised to procure PPEs based on specifications of Health Ministry. Thermal scanners are being deployed at different airports in the country.
Chief Secretaries were requested to convene meetings of the State Crisis Management Group at regular intervals for continued vigilance and preparedness. Health Ministry will continue to monitor the situation. A Control Room has been set up at the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. The numbers are 23063205, 23061469 and 23061302.
Courtesy: pib.nic.in
Health Secretary, Home Secretary, Shipping Secretary and Secretaries/ representatives of D/o Health Research, Civil Aviation and External Affairs were also present.
The protocol/ preparedness measures including infection control practices to be followed by the States/UTs have already been communicated to the states. The state Governments informed during the meeting that these protocols have been put in place and all inbound passengers are being screened.
Till 15.10.2014, 22150 passengers have been screened of which 7 were identified to be at medium risk and 56 at high risk while the others were categorised at low risk. Low risk passengers are given general advice on the virus while medium and high risk passengers are kept under observation for a further period of 30 days and their blood samples tested. A tracking system has been put in place under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP). No case of Ebola has so far been reported in the country although WHO has reported about 9000 cases and 4493 deaths globally.
State Governments informed that in accordance with the protocol, they have identified hospitals and isolation ward for Ebola treatment. Central teams have been asked to inspect the adequacy of preparations in these hospitals. A training of trainers is being organised by the Health Ministry from 19th-21st October, 2014 at Delhi. This training will include demonstrations and mock drills.
National Institute of Virology at Pune is fully equipped to handle the testing work relating to Ebola virus and the National Centre for Diseases Control (NCDC), Delhi, for molecular diagnosis. 10 other laboratories in various places including Delhi, Dibrugarh, Port Blair, Kolkata, Manipal, Lucknow, Guwahati, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Thiruvananthapuram, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Jaipur and Agra will be strengthened to handle this work..
Immigration officers have been trained and crew members of flights have also been sensitised on the measures to be taken by the airline crew and on the standard operating procedures for passenger screening at the airports by Airport Health Organisations. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has been asked to make inflight announcement regarding the virus and its symptoms. A health screening card and advisory for passengers has also been prepared and information is being collected from the passengers arriving from/transiting through the affected countries. The Chief Secretaries were requested to have proper liaison and coordination is maintained by the State health authorities with the airports. State Governments have been asked to maintain coordination with all ports, including the minor ports, so that ship crew are also screened properly.
Some State Governments expressed the need for supply of adequate number of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) gear. 50,000 PPE gear procured earlier and available with the Central Government will be distributed to the States. State Governments have also been advised to procure PPEs based on specifications of Health Ministry. Thermal scanners are being deployed at different airports in the country.
Chief Secretaries were requested to convene meetings of the State Crisis Management Group at regular intervals for continued vigilance and preparedness. Health Ministry will continue to monitor the situation. A Control Room has been set up at the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. The numbers are 23063205, 23061469 and 23061302.
Courtesy: pib.nic.in
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