Bandipora: The Bandipora district administration has started the process of establishing 5-bedded COVID Care Centre in each Panchayat with an aim to strengthen the health infrastructure in rural areas amid the 2nd wave of covid19 pandemic.
The Covid Care Centres are being established on the directions of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. Deputy Commissioner Bandipora Dr Owais Ahmad said one among the 5 beds will be oxygen supported bed for immediate patient care at village level. He said there are several households who have no option for isolation of covid positive patients in their own residence and hence these centres will be beneficial for such patients and will help in reducing pressure on mainstream healthcare institutions at block, Sub-District or District level health institutions.
Dr Owais said these facilities are being established at all Panchayats in Schools, Community halls or Panchayat ghar in consultation with nearest Health Centre and Panchayat representatives. He said these Centres shall be equipped with necessary medical kit and linked to nearest health centres and will strengthen health infrastructure in Rural Areas. He said all these centers shall be made functional within few days.
To ensure smooth functioning of these centres, the administration also organized a day-long training session for the Village Level Committees including field staff of Healthcare centers, Asha workers and Anganwari workers.
The training session was chaired by Chief Medical Officer Bandipora Dr Bashir while Nodal Officer COVID Mehraj Wani, Block Development Officer Dr Murtaza. Master Trainer Dr. Syed Liyaqat (Medical Officer), Dr. Shabir Bhat, Dr Jamsheed (MLHP), Dr Jahangir (MLHP), Dr Faizan (MLHP) and Dr Showkat (MLHP) and other senior officers were present on the occasion.
During the training programme experts explained functions and different activities of the Village Level Committees for COVID containment at village level. It was given out that the teams shall help in contact tracing, rigorous testing and awareness about vaccination besides conducting check up of the COVID positive patients.
Mehraj Wani while speaking on the occasion highlighted the facilities to be provided at COVID Care Centres and the other related arrangements. He also highlighted the role of Panchayat Raj Institutions in covid containment including operations of covid care centres, contact tracing, vaccination and implementation of SOPs .

Reader correspondent