health
Mumbai: Masks made mandatory in all BMC hospitals from April 11 amid rise in Covid cases
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Starting from April 11, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has directed that it is compulsory for employees, patients, and visitors at civic or private hospitals to wear three-ply or N95 masks. BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal has directed all hospitals to implement the directive with immediate effect. The directive has been issued in view of the current spike in Covid cases in the city.
Further, senior citizens have been advised to wear masks in public places and crowded spots. The advisory comes after the Union ministry of health has indicated the possibility of an increase in Covid cases in May.
IMA issued circular stating directives about physical distance
Meanwhile, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has issued a circular stating that people should avoid hugging, kissing and shaking hands and maintain at least a metre of physical distance. The IMA has further said that doctors should avoid prescribing antibiotics since these have no role in the treatment of Covid.
Chahal’s directives
“It is mandatory for all employees, patients, and visitors in municipal hospitals to wear masks. All municipal employees should also wear masks as a precautionary measure. Meanwhile, guidelines on home isolation will be re-issued. Moreover, all aspects of Covid preparedness, such as Covid testing, ward war rooms, availability of oxygen and medicines and Covid preparedness in private hospitals, were also reviewed,” Chahal said.
Chahal also stated that although it was not mandatory, those above 60 years of age should wear masks as a precautionary measure, in crowded places. “We have also given strict instructions that patients admitted for surgery at the hospital will have to undergo RT-PCR testing and if such a patient tests positive and the surgery is not an emergency, then it must be postponed.
BMC Executive Health Officer Dr Mangala Gomare said, “We have been urging senior citizens and people with comorbidities to wear masks, so as to avoid contracting infections. We have been directed to increase Covid testing and also check stocks of testing kits.”
Essential equipment need to stock up as safety measure
The central purchase department should review the availability of gloves, masks, PPE kits, as well as the stock of medicines and other medical equipment required by all the hospitals of BMC and commence the purchasing process, if required. It should be ensured that there will be no shortage of any medical requirement
As the number of Covid patients increases, the need for intensive care may also increase. It is therefore important for all the hospitals to examine and audit their medical oxygen plants to ensure that these are functioning well and there is a balance between the demand and supply of oxygen, at all times
All ward war rooms, which have played a vital role in patient management during previous waves of Covid, should be urgently reviewed to ensure that they are functional with all the necessary manpower and machinery to deal with any situation.
The health department should re-issue guidelines regarding home isolation of Covid-19 patients. The assistant commissioners of the concerned wards should also review medicine stocks and the availability of manpower in HBT clinics.
Pre-monsoon works like desilting, road repairs, etc., should be completed before the onset of the monsoon. Coordination officers should be appointed at the ward-office level for the organisation of ‘Matrushakti Mahila Melava’ by the department of women and child welfare.
The additional municipal commissioner (projects) and deputy commissioner (infrastructure) should regularly review pre-monsoon works, including the concretisation of roads. The additional municipal commissioner (city) should review the appointment of ‘swachhtadoots’ and the construction of new public toilets.
health
Mumbai Air Pollution: City Wakes Up To Thick Layer Of Smog Shows Visuals; AQI Stands At 155
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Mumbai: The city woke up to a haze-filled atmosphere in the morning on Thursday (November 16). It is worth mentioning that Mumbai has been reeling under high air pollution in recent days due to the construction activities at various sites. The situation has also been aggravated by the use of fireworks during Diwali celebrations. A thick layer of haze lingered in the air in Mumbai this morning.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted partially cloudy skies in the city and suburbs in the morning today.
The weather agency also predicted that the city and suburbs will continue to see cloudy skies towards the afternoon and by the evening. The temperatures on Wednesday are likely to be between 26°C to 33°C.
Causes of pollution
The primary causes of outdoor air pollution are solid, liquid particles called aerosols & gase from vehicle emissions, construction activities, factories, burning stubble & fossil fuels and wildfire, etc.
The main causes of indoor air pollution are harmful gases from cooking fuels (such as wood, crop wastes, charcoal, coal and dung), damp, mould smoke, chemicals from cleaning materials, etc.
health
Yogi tweaks Atal scheme to benefit Covid orphans
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Lucknow, April 21. The Uttar Pradesh government has approved a proposal seeking amendments in the Atal Residential School Scheme to help children affected by Covid-19.
The Atal Residential School Scheme aims to provide quality and free education to children of poor labourers, according to a government press release.
“Now, children who have lost one or both their parents during Covid-19 pandemic will also be able to benefit. The Women Welfare Department will make available the list of such children to us. Under the scheme, free quality residential education from Class 6 to 12 will be made available,” an official said.
In the order issued, it has been mentioned that the amendment in the present system of the Atal Residential School Scheme has been unanimously approved by the Uttar Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board.
The maintenance and social security of registered construction workers will be fully ensured in the interest of eligible construction workers, an official said.
The eligibility conditions of the scheme have also been amended.
Admission will be given only to the children of the registered construction workers who have completed at least three years of membership of the board after registration.
Earlier this period was kept only for one year.
However, the eligibility of maximum two children of the registered working family to study in the school remains the same as before.
Every year the admission of children of construction workers and the children eligible for the Mukhyamantri Bal Seva Yojana will be made on the basis of the procedure laid down by the Atal Residential School Committee.
“The state government will make the payment of expenses related to destitute children and children eligible for the Mukhyamantri Bal Seva Yojana (general) to the Atal Residential School Committee, through which funds will be provided to the schools. For this, the Atal Residential School Committee will have to operate a separate account.
“Under the scheme, the same rule was prescribed earlier for orphans as well, but now the names of destitute children and children eligible for Mukhyamantri Bal Seva Yojana have been added,” an official said.
Exclusive
Navi Mumbai: 14 die of dehydration at Maharashtra Bhushan award event as VIPs enjoy lavish buffet on taxpayers’ money
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Even as lakhs of people were sitting under the scorching sun at the Khargar International Corporate Park ground last Sunday to witness the Maharashtra Bhushan award event, about 900 persons, including VIPs, were enjoying a lavish buffet laid out in an air-conditioned palace-like lounge behind the dais. The menu included fresh white dhoklas, cocktail batawadas, aluwadi, paneer masala, pitla, matki usal, special pulao, two types of dal, basmati jeera rice, puri, chapati, badam halwa, aamras, shrikhand, ice creams – gadbad, strawberry, chocolate, vanilla, and chilled soft drinks, all unlimited and at the taxpayers’ expense.
Official expenditure on the program was Rs.13.50 crore
The VIPs were given golden color spoons to gorge on the lavish spread. One of the guests told on Thursday that each plate cost ₹1,000. Minister for Culture Sudhir Mungantiwar was one of the VIPs seen in the special lounge. The official expenditure on the program was ₹13.50 crore, but if the money spent on resurfacing the roads, etc., is taken into account, the expense could easily be ₹25 crore.
Arrangements for water were not only inadequate
Outside, there was not even a shade for the visitors who were all followers of Appasaheb Dharmadhikari, who was the recipient of the government award. Arrangements for water were not only inadequate but also not placed at vantage points. Unable to bear the heat, as many as 14 persons died of dehydration. Mungantiwar effectively blamed Dharmadhikari since it was the “social reformer” who suggested the time at 11.00 a.m. Incidentally, Dharmakari spoke for one hour even as his followers were suffering from the blazing heat with nothing to cover their heads. The government has asked the Revenue Secretary Nitin Kareer to probe the tragedy.
Meanwhile, a lawyer from Navi Mumbai, Sachin Thorat (43), has written to the Khargar police to register his FIR against Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Mungantiwar, and others connected with the organization of the awards function. He told FPJ on Thursday that he will file a private complaint with a local court under section 156 (3) of the CrPC if his FIR is not registered in the next few days.
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