CM ATTENDS VIDEO CONFERENCING WITH MODI
Next few weeks crucial, appeal for cooperation from all: CM
SE Report
GANGTOK: Chief Minister P.S. Golay today attended the video conference of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with all the Chief Ministers regarding the ongoing national lockdown and coronavirus outbreak.
In his social media page, the Chief Minister shared that the Prime Minister gave strict guidelines to the head of all the States to tackle the recent outbreak of the disease in the country.
The Prime Minister advised all the Chief Ministers to observe lockdown in their respective States and ensure that people are following it. Further, he also directed the head of the States to look after the facilities and make sure there is no shortage of essential commodities.
“The State Government has adopted every preventive measure and I once again would like to inform everyone that we have 3 months’ worth of essential products in our State. We are also focussing on isolating and quarantining those who have recent travel history outside Sikkim. We have also provided test facilities for doubtful cases,” posted the Chief Minister.
“Due to the recent casualty of coronavirus disease at Kalimpong and with few more positive cases, we have increased the security in our checkpoints and have directed officers to provide frequent reports. I also urge the NGOs and the people to be cautious and more vigilant,” said Golay.
“With the collective effort of the people and the Government, we have been able to contain the disease from entering Sikkim. The next few weeks are crucial for our State and I urge everyone to co-operate and observe social distancing to keep Sikkim COVID-19 free,” said the Chief Minister.
NIZAMUDDIN MARKAZ EVENT: ATTENDEES FROM SIKKIM APPEALED TO CONTACT ADMINISTRATION
Staff Reporter
GANGTOK: The east district authorities have appealed persons here to report themselves to the administration if they have returned home after attending a recent religious event at Nizamuddin Markaz, Delhi.
Over the past few days, reports are coming from different States stating that many persons who attended the event last month have tested positive for COVID-19. The State governments are identifying and putting the attendees under quarantine and testing to prevent further spread of coronavirus in their States.
Similarly, a drive was conducted by the east district administration on Thursday to appeal the members of Muslim community in Gangtok and elsewhere for coming forward and reporting to the authorities if they have returned home after attending the Nizamuddin Markaz, now viewed as a hotspot for COVID-19.
The drive was led by Gangtok SDM Robin Sewa.
Speaking with media, the Gangtok SDM informed that reports coming from the Delhi event are a matter of great concern for the administration. “We are concerned that some of our Muslim community members here may have attended that event and returned home and are unaware about the situation. The district administration has decided to visit different places and appeal to the Muslim community members to cooperate by voluntarily disclosing if they have attended the Delhi event,” he said.
“People may be thinking that they are no infected or are not sick but no one knows it for sure. If you have participated (Delhi event) then you must inform us and we will take you to the hospital and test you. Timely test is crucial to prevent Sikkim from this global pandemic, fortunately so far Sikkim has not been affected,” said Sewa in his appeal.
To a question, the Gangtok SDM said strong legal actions would be taken against those who do not voluntary disclose about their Delhi event participation to the administration.
Dr. Karma Loday comes up a personal protection suit prototype for Corona fighters
PANKAJ DHUNGEL
GANGTOK: Necessity is the mother of invention.
Eye specialist Dr. Karma Loday Bhutia has created his own personnel protection suit that he intends to wear while dealing with COVID-19 related activities at the State-run STNM hospital here. He believes that the suit could come handy, in case of no other alternatives available, for the second-line workers on duty at the present situation.
After two trial and error runs, Dr. Karma Loday, a resident of Daragaon, Tadong here was satisfied with the third result of his design and got it stitched from local tailor Abdul Karim based at Sichey.
The suit is water resistant and is made of non-porous material.
Speaking with SIKKIM EXPRESS on Thursday, the 40-year-old ophthalmologist of STNM hospital mentions that his suit is not a substitute to the Health department-prescribed PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) suit. It is something that can be considered for the second-line workers in hospitals from cleaners to emergency responders or those engaged in border checkposts including police personnel.
“You can consider that if more of these personal protection suits are made, they can come in handy for the second-line COVID-19 workers. These can be used by the hospital guards, flu clinic wards, emergency services, ward sisters, ambulance drivers, and cleaning staffs. At present in hospitals, you do not know who could be coming with COVID-19 symptoms. Being an ophthalmologist, we attend a lot of emergencies; we come in close contact with the patients. It’s locally made and it seems good enough as it is water-resistant and non-porous, but still not a substitute to a certified PPE.”
“PPE is for those who are working in isolation wards or an ICU setting. We do have sufficient PPE and various grades of the same, smaller to hazmat suits. This idea was generated with my like-minded friends and after seeing the videos of the condition of PPEs in other places of the country. They have been using raincoats, and what we have developed is better than the raincoats,” said Dr. Karma Loday.
The personal protection body wear developed by Dr. Karma Loday consists of two layers – the inner layer includes a fine plain cloth while the outer layer of a thick plastic material.
“The fine cloth gives us some flexibility; the outer plastic material went through the screening. The plastic could not hold on to the stretch while we were sitting and the same tore apart in our first attempt. The second prototype was not flexible enough, it was uncomfortable. But, the third prototype has checked on all the pointers and I am already getting more orders from among my doctor friends, with them placing 6 orders”.
Dr. Karma Loday shared that given the lockdown, he was able to aid the tailor to earn some form of remuneration. “Ideally the suit is costing me something under Rs. 1000 but with bulk orders, the cost could substantially come down. Tailors are currently sitting idle and it becomes a help to the health workers in this time of need and they can generate incentive out of it,” he said.
The suits need to cover the entire body.
“The consideration with wearing the suit is that, we the frontline workers should not be exposed to hazardous material or any droplet from the COVID-19 patient comes in touch with the health worker. It is not confined to health workers, it can be used by veterinarians and foresters treating animals.”
It is advisable to dispose off the suit after being used once. For re-use, it was suggested that the suit can be soaked in detergent for 24 hours and wash it and dry for 12 hours. Or one can soak in sodium hydrochloride solution if available.
Dr. Karma is a reputed ophthalmologist working in the STNM hospital since 2019. He has previously worked with National Health Mission from 2009 to 2013, following which he worked with CRH Manipal here for six years before joining the new multi-speciality STNM hospital, last year. He is also inclined on developing a face shield in the days to come.
Health director general Dr. Pempa T. Bhutia welcomed the welcomed the initiative taken by Dr. Karma Loday. He highlighted that such initiatives along with similar innovative solutions are being undertaken by the healthcare workers in Singtam and Geyzing, West Sikkim by developing healthcare solutions in this time of need.sikkimexpress/from
