The Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole today had a whirl wind tour of North Kashmir district of Kupwara to take stock of Covid containment measures and facilities available in health institutions there.The Div Com was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner(DC), Kupwara Imam Din, ADC, Kupwara, Nazir Ahmad Lone, President Municipal Committee, Handwara Mansoor Banday, Incharge Covid Kashmir, Dr Waseem Qurashi, Ex. Eng. Hospital Engineering, Mubashir Naqueshbandi, CMO Kupwara and other concerned officers.During the tour, the Div Com visited various Hospitals including District Hospital (DH), Handwara; Sub District Hospital(SDH), Langate, SDH Kupwara, Covid Dedicated Hospital Kupwara and took stock of facilities being provided in the Hospitals. He also reviewed other Covid related facilities including availability of oxygen and medicines. Testing, tracing and treatment facilities were also reviewed.The Div Com also inspected quarantine wards, Hospital Laboratories, Emergency wards at Kupwara, Handwara and Langate Hospitals and passed on spot directions for further improvement in Covid management facilities. He also took stock of infrastructure, bedding and other required facilities being provided to Corona positive patients in the Hospitals.
Pole also inspected the oxygen generation plant at SDH Kupwara, District Covid control room at Kupwara and also inaugurated Covid Immunization Centre at ANMT School SDH, Kupwara.He said that the aim of his tour was to get first hand assessment and feedback from ground zero. He directed CMO Kupwara to ensure that vaccination drive is accelerated through a camp mode and aware the public aware of the need to take doses of vaccine so that cent percent vaccination of targeted groups could be achieved.The Div Com interacted with doctors and staff members on duty and appreciated their contribution towards containment of the pandemic. He stressed on following the SOPs while attending the patients. During the visit, the Div Com also enquired about the status of sample collection, vaccination, registration under Ayushman Bharat Sehat Scheme, contact tracing, ICU facilities, availability of bedding capacity etc.Talking to media persons, the Div Com appealed to people, especially above 45 years of age to strictly follow the guidelines of ' no venturing out unnecessarily ' for their better safety. He also urged people to follow social distance, maintain hand and face hygiene and above all ensure wearing masks. He also advised people to keep in touch with radio and television as all Government information is easily accessed through this medium of communication.