Set up Covid Committees in every GN Division

The current wave of the deadly Covid-19 Delta virus is sweeping to all parts of the country. We are at the threshold of the worst stage of the pandemic. According to media reports, as at noon on August 19, the number of infected in the hospitals, have exceeded 45,000. Doctors and nurses are now infected. 28 staff members, including eight doctors, of the Homagama hospital have been infected. Of those, eight doctors, four were attached to the ICU. 265 staff members, including 27 doctors and 105 nurses of the National Hospital in Colombo, are among the infected. Since the nursing staff members are infected, the hospital cannot maintain their duty shifts. As per countrywide reports, there were more than 200 doctors and 4,000 nurses infected. Around 40 PHIs and hundreds of Para-medics and health supportive service staff members are also infected by the virus. As of now, several health assistant workers and doctors have lost their lives.

An important response to this virus is getting immunised through vaccination. The Government, with the President and PM giving the lead, has done well to procure a maximum amount of vaccines from abroad, in the face of a heavy demand worldwide. The health and military personnel have expended their energies and done a great number of vaccinations. However, there does not appear to be a good plan, and the population groups selected do not conform to any thought out risk-based priority list. There are still a significant number of over 60s to be vaccinated.

As a remedy, a nationwide Quarantine Curfew declared on 20th August till Monday 30th August, has been extended until 06 Sept. Lockdown will yield the desired results only if the quarantine curfew is strictly enforced in all villages and other locations. A lockdown alone cannot help contain the pandemic; it must be strictly enforced, and used to ease strain on the health sector, which is overwhelmed,

The triumph of the virus has been mostly due to lack of public cooperation with the health authorities to contain it. When the current lockdown was announced people threw caution to the wind and started stocking up. There was a buying frenzy. Health rules that have been imposed had not been instilled into people’s minds. People are wearing the masks below the chin, and covering the nose when a policeman is sighted. A new mindset has to be developed nationwide, with a new behaviour pattern; if we are to survive.

The people cannot lay the blame for the ever-worsening health crisis solely at the government’s door, while they themselves are flouting the quarantine laws.

Sate Minister Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle, has said the lockdown will not yield the desired results unless the public resolves to abide by the health regulations and acts accordingly.

If the people care to cover their mouths and noses, maintain physical distance, wash or sanitise their hands regularly, and avoid crowds, with the government ramping up the vaccination drive, there will be no need to close the country, from time to time, at an enormous socio-economic cost.

To ensure that every one observes the health regulations, set up Covid Committees at each Grama Niladhari division consisting of all public officers attached to the division. Grama Niladhari should be the convener and the PHI should be the Chairman of this committee. This committee should interact with the MOH. of the area and should function under the Divisional Secretary. The local authority member representing the particular Grama Niladhari area, should also be a member of this committee

The entire Grama Niladhari area should be educated on how the observance of those rules will protect each one..

The Covid Committee will, besides health education and enforcement of the health rules, spot likely cases as soon as they arise, and get them seen by a doctor and PCR tests be arranged.

JUSTIN KEPPETIYAGAMA
jdkgama02@gmail.com