Precious Kashmir

Amarnath Yatra: Director Health Services Kashmir reviews healthcare arrangements

City

19/06/2021

Amarnath Yatra: Director Health Services Kashmir reviews healthcare arrangements

Srinagar: Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Rather on Friday visited Balthal base camp ahead of Amarnath Yatra to oversee the health care arrangements for the ensuing yatra.

A spokesperson of Directorate of Health Services Kashmir said the director visited the Balthal base camp and reviewed the health care facilities for this year’s Amarnath Yatra.

The director said that the visit was aimed to be prepared for the Yatra. While reviewing the arrangements he said from Manigam to the holy cave, they have kept ready multiple camps and they are also upgrading Sonmarg hospital.

The director said the base camp is also ready and they have kept all the health facilities ready.

“Equipment have been made available so that Yatris do not face any kind of inconvenience. We are keeping everything ready. We are prepared for the Yatra,” he said.

The director said in view of the Covid-19 pandemic, there would be separate Covid ward and main ward while a similar ward would be created at the Balthal base camp.

“We are keeping all Covid facilities there. Covid tests would be done there besides other diagnostic tests. All the medical camps have been made functional en route the Yatra,” he said.

Regarding staff, the director said staff has been designated for this purpose.

The directed also visited PHC Sonmarg where he gave on spot instructions to Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Gandebal to renovate the medical centre Sonamarg and make all health facilities available for the public in the shortest possible time.

The director also met a delegation of local citizens who put forward certain measures to be taken for the betterment of the public in the area.

The DHSK assured them that all the possible facilities would be made available to make the PHC functional 24/7.

The director also paid a visit to medical centre Dumail where he reviewed the base camp arrangements related to Yatra and about other medical facilities.

It is in place to mention that before starting his journey to Balthal, the director paid a visit to the holly shrine of Kheer Bawani where the Mela Kheer Bawani was celebrated with religious fervour.

Every ration card to get 5.5 ltrs Kerosene during May, June: FCS&CA

Sports

Precious Kashmir

19/06/2021

SRINAGA: According to Director, Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) department Kashmir, it is notified for information of all bonafide consumers/general public of the valley, that the kerosene oil for the months of May and June, 2021 is being distributed at the rate of 5.5 Litres per Ration Card (PHH+AAY) Rs.43.16 per Litre (District Srinagar).

Any complaint in this behalf may be brought to the notice of this Directorate on Toll free No.18001807011 and to respective Assistant Directors.

DC Kulgam felicitates Mehfooz illahi, Mount Everest climber

Sports

Precious Kashmir

19/06/2021

KULGAM: The District Administration Kulgam today organised a felicitation ceremony to honour 26 year old Mahfooz Ilahi Hajam, a resident of Kulgam district after he successfully scaled Mount Everest.

The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kulgam, Dr.Bilal Mohi-Ud-Din Bhat congratulated Mehfooz for scaling the highest peak of the world and presented a shawl and a memento to Mehfooz during the felicitation event.

The DC said that it will go a long way in motivating other youngsters to take interest in mountaineering and other adventurous sports activities.

Mahfooz, a civilian instructor at the Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports (JIM&WS) in Aru (Pahalgam), scaled the world’s highest peak and hails from Kujroo village of District Kulgam

While sharing details Mehfooz said that he belongs to a middle-class family from the Kujjar area of South Kashmir’s Kulgam district. and, “At 6.20 am on June 1, he completed his mission and scaled Mount Everest [8,849 metres], the highest peak in the world”.

The expedition was led by Colonel LS Thapa, an ace climber who has scaled Mount Everest twice. Colonel Thapa is currently Principal at JIMWS Pahalgam.

It was not a cake walk adventure and our team stuck for 10 days at camp 2, due to heavy winds in track to peak of Mount Everest,

Mehfooz said and added that “Youth of Kashmir should choose adventure sports as we have a lot of potential here for it.

Present on the occasion were ADC, ACD and other officers from District administration.

Covid-19 Mitigation steps: MD ICPS appointed as Nodal Officer

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

19/06/2021

SRINAGAR: With reference to the order of Supreme Court (SC) of India, passed in Suo Moto Writ (SMW) no 4 of 2020, the Government of J&K has appointed Mission Director (MD) ICPS, Shabnam Shah Kamili as Nodal Officer in the UT of J&K, for coordinating covid mitigation steps in child protection homes.

According to order no 80-SWD (J&K) of 2021 on 16th June, the appointed Nodal Officer in cooperation with learned amicus curiae has to provide all necessary information relating to the identification of orphans and action taken by district authorities for their welfare.

A high level virtual meeting was also held today in cognizance to this order, noted certain actions that need to be taken in order to contain the spread of virus in Child Protection Homes (CPH). During the meeting threadbare discussions were held on the steps taken by ICPS to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Many of the points discussed in the meeting were- Identification of children orphaned due to pandemic by District Child Protection officers, guidelines for their care and protection, designation of one Child care institution (CCI) in each district, counselling of children affected by COVID-19, foster homes for children, importance of ChildLine.

The virtual meeting observed the presence of V Somasundaran, Union Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child development GOI, Secretary social welfare J&K, Sheetal Nanda, Mission Director, ICPS, Shabnam Shah Kamili and others who spoke on the re-contagion of COVID-19 in child protection homes.

According to the SMW ‘In re contagion of COVID 19 Virus in child protection homes’ there are children who need care and attention and are kept in or children in conflict with law who are kept in various types of homes. In these circumstances, it was felt that the interest of these children should be looked into.

Vaccination Pace

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Oped

Precious Kashmir

18/06/2021

The central government has defended its decision to keep a long gap between two doses of Covishield.

As per Union health minister Harsh Vardhan, the decision to increase the gap between administering 2 doses of Covishield has been taken in a transparent manner based on scientific data. India, he said, has a robust mechanism to evaluate data.

World over, however, second shots were given sooner for adequate protection and some experts underlined the need to hurry it in the Indian context also, especially in view of the prevalent Delta variant.

Also, in clinical trials, two shots were supposed to be administered with a gap of four weeks. However, participants received vaccines at variable intervals of four to 12 weeks. When clinical trial data from the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil was analysed, the vaccine efficacy was found to be 55% if two doses were administered at an interval of less than six weeks and around 80% if administered with a 12-week gap. However, when the findings from the phase 3 clinical trial of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in the United States of America became available in March 2021, the efficacy at a four-week interval was found to be 76%. In such a scenario, the country must keep pace with the target.

One expects the government to be cogent to some recent studies which claimed that the single dose of Covishield gives only 33 percent protection as against 65 to 85 percent estimated earlier. So, the scientists are calling for reducing the gap between two doses. And this should be the case. More so, in the case of the elderly population.

The Jammu and Kashmir government meanwhile needs to ensure the first dose is administered to as many people as possible and that too with the degree of haste. There is a continuous need to educate people to reduce hesitancy towards vaccines. Target should be to increase the willingness of the people to get vaccinated. The numbers have been rising steadily but more in terms of awareness and stress on need to get vaccinated sooner for returning to normal must be continued with more vigour. At places, the participation in vaccination programmes has been lukewarm and the reasons for this need to be fixed. The administration has shown that it has enough wherewithals to meet any challenge and accelerate the daily vaccination rate. Clearly, there is a case for reaching out to people to quickly and increase vaccine uptake.

Drainage project ruins Anantnag streets

Anchor stories

Ahmed Shabir

18/06/2021

R&B gets Rs 2 cr compensation from UEED, fails to start renovation process

Ahmad Shabir

Anantnag: Authorities have utterly failed to repair the streets dug up by the Urban Environment Engineering Department (UEED) for construction of the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in Anantnag Town four years ago, which has even been made operational for over a year now.

The failure of the concerned department in repairing the lanes and bylines for four straight years has added to the miseries of the people, who are facing tremendous hardships while passing through these lanes.

UEED in 2017 dug up the roads and tiled streets in the entire town for fixing underground pipes for STP sanctioned by the central government under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Transformation (AMRUT).

It took almost four years for the agency to fix the pipes and complete the project, which was made operational last year.

The agency paid compensation of Rs 2 crore to the Roads and Building department (R&B) for repair of the damaged roads and streets. Though the R&B last year macadamised the dug up roads after facing strong criticism from the traders, the streets in all the localities have been left as a mess severely inconveniencing the locals.

The localities where the streets are in shambles include Kadipora, Sarnal, Malaknag, Chennai chock, Bakshiabad , Janglat Mandi, Mattan Chowk, Dangarpora and others.

These lanes, according to residents, have become a health hazard for them.

“After the tiles were removed from these lanes four years ago by the executing agency they have become a health hazard for us. During sunny days of summer the heavy volumes of dust emanate from them causing respiratory ailments to the elderly ones while in case of minor showers they turn into muddy paths making them too slippery to walk upon,” said a resident, Junaid Ahmad of Kadipora.

The residents many a time approached the UEED authorities with their grievances but a resident said, they only tell them that their job is over and that they have paid the compensation for the same to R and B.

An official of the UEED said that they have paid all the compensation amounting to more than two crore rupees to R and B for repair of roads but if they are not doing it, fault is theirs. “Our job is done,” he said.

Though the Executive Engineer, R&B division Khanabal, Qazi Javed talking to this newspaper cited the bad weather and poor response to the tender notice as the reason for delay in macadamizing the streets.

“Firstly, the weather was not conducive for repair of these damaged streets. Now that we had floated tenders for the same but there was poor response to the tender notice. We are again going to issue the tender for it and repair work on them will be started soon,” he had said.

However, three months after his assurance, these streets continue to await the repair, thus putting a question mark on the functioning of the department.

The officer when contacted again said the agency man who has been allotted the contract for the same is busy with some other work.

“Once he is free, the work on the repair of streets will be started. I think within weeks he will be free to start the work,” the officer said.

Every J&K Panchayat to get youth club: LG

Front

Precious Kashmir

18/06/2021

Every J&K Panchayat to get youth club: LG

Says CIIITs to be roped in for skill development

Srinagar: In order to increase the presence of Youth engagement at the Panchayat level, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha Thursday directed for establishing Youth Clubs in every Panchayat across Jammu and Kashmir for constructive activities and addressing all the concerns of young generation.

In first phase 22,500 Youth from 4290 Panchayats to be engaged in the Youth clubs, with Government incurring expenditure to the tune of Rs.12 Crore for this initiative. These Youth clubs to be the nerve centres for all youth programs; community involvement; IEC, Sports & Cultural activities, observed the Lt Governor.

The Lt Governor was chairing the Governing body meeting of Mission Youth at Civil Secretariat, wherein approvals were accorded to a host of schemes, to be launched soon, in various sectors which will make a greater impact on the Youth engagement and Livelihood generation programmes in the UT.

The meeting also decided to start two state-of-the-art coaching centre in Jammu & Srinagar to impart coaching for Civil Services and other competitive exams under PARVAAZ, a livelihood generation scheme.

The Government, through Mission Youth, will provide financial assistance to dental surgeons to start their own clinic. In the first phase, 400 dental surgeons and 800 paramedics will be selected for a specially tailored self-employment scheme, the Lt Governor maintained.

Emphasizing on effective execution of the programme, the Lt Governor directed the concerned officers to put dedicated focus on effective implementation of youth-oriented schemes on-ground. He further called for convergence and linkages of existing schemes with the proposed ones to yield better results.

“It is important to incorporate young generation’s perspective in government policy and ensure their participation and representation at all levels. Health, Education, Economy and Employment are some of the key areas where young people can contribute for the sustainable development of the UT”, the Lt Governor said.

Underlining the importance of Market-driven Training for youth of J&K, besides imparted Soft Skill Training to the youngsters, the Lt Governor suggested for roping in reputed Organizations/ Corporate Houses, Centre for Invention, Innovation, Incubation and Training (CIIIT) at Baramulla and Jammu for up-skilling of the youth.

The Lt Governor asked the CEO Mission Youth to establish Mission Youth Centres with recreational facilities in Jammu and Srinagar, besides setting up digital libraries in coordination with the Education department in every district. Directions were also passed for setting up One-stop facilitation centres for guiding youths regarding benefits of different schemes and establishment of District Youth Centres.

Stressing on the need to extend Psycho-Social Support to the youth, the Lt Governor instructed for establishing Counseling Centres in 8 districts, four in each division.

Laying special emphasis on the welfare of youth with disabilities, the Lt Governor directed for organizing Mega camps in the UT. Under Mission Youth, 5000 Youth with Disabilities in age-group 18-35 to be covered and provided with access to existing schemes; skilling, connect with digital world, livelihood support, link-up with banking and financial institutions, he added.

For the promotion and development of Community Based Entrepreneurship, the Lt Governor set the target for the establishment of 50 Model Community Entrepreneur units during 2021-22.

Addressing the need for enhancing the skills of the youth in clinical management, directions were passed to train at least 1000 youths through various technical courses in the respective field.

Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Chief Executive Officer, Mission Youth, highlighted the key features of the Annual Action Plan of Mission Youth for the Financial Year 2021-22.

He gave a detailed overview of thrust areas of the plan, besides objectives, targets, and future course of action of the proposed schemes.

The CEO informed that under specially tailored self-employment scheme for empowerment of young women of J&K- TAJASWANI, 2000 young women will be facilitated to establish a sustainable livelihood. Besides, the extension of benefits under self-employment schemes like MUMKIN will be done for the benefit of the youth.

Under Recreation and Social Engagement, LG’s Rolling Trophy will be held in sports like Cricket and Football from Block to UT level covering all 20 Districts of J&K, it was informed.

Farooq Khan, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar and Baseer Ahmad Khan- Advisors to the Lieutenant Governor; Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary; RK Chhibber, Chairman J&K Bank; Nitishwar Kumar, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor; Administrative Secretaries, besides other senior officers participated in the meeting, in person and through video conferencing.

COVID-19: 656 test positive, 9 die in J&K

Front

Nadeem Nadu

18/06/2021

By: Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir reported 656 new covid-19 cases while nine people succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours, officials said on Thursday.

They said that among the fresh cases, 190 were reported from Jammu Division and 466 from Kashmir Valley, taking the total case tally to 310017.

Regarding nine COVID-19 deaths, they said, five were from Jammu Division and four from Kashmir, taking the total toll to 4226.

Giving the district-wide details, the official said that Srinagar reported 112 cases, Baramulla 42, Budgam 94, Pulwama 54, Kupwara 45, Anantnag 53, Bandipora 17, Ganderbal 25, Kulgam 18, Shopian 6, Jammu 33, Udhampur 6, Rajouri 26, Doda 41, Kathua 16, Samba 9, Kishtwar 9, Poonch 4, Ramban 26 and Reasi 16.

Meanwhile, a new confirmed case of mucormycosis (black fungus) has been reported today, bringing the cumulative number of confirmed cases to 22 in J&K, they said.

A number of fresh covid-19 cases were confirmed at diagnostic labouratories of CD hospital here and GMC Anantnag.

The CD cases include female (48) from Dangerpora Pul, female (28) from Arihal Pul, male (25) from Sangerwani Pul, male (33) from Rajouri Pul, two males (20, 35) and female (08) from Bagh Sangerwani, male (25) from Tulbagh Pampore, female (65) from Kadalbal Pampore, male (33) from K K Bagh, female (35) and male (08) from Namlabal Pampore, female (45) and male (32) from Kadalbal Pampore, male (33) from Krenchoo, male (28) from Pampore, male (40) from Khrew, male (25) from Balhama, male (36) from Mandekpal, female (28) from Bemina, male (45) from Telengam, female (75) from Kakapora, male (29) from Naman, two males (06, 42) from Kakapora, female (28) from Puchal, male (57) from NA, female (32) from Srg, male (NA) from Tangdar, female (40) from Kawdara, two females (42, 10) from Nawakadal, female (45) and male (14) from Eidgah, female (20) from Noorbagh, male (33) from BB Cantt Srg, male (26) from Dalgate Srg, seven males (75, 45, 74, 60, 61, 65, 50) and five females (45, 80, 60, 55, 72) from NA, two females (15, 47) from Lal Bazar, male (25) from Habakadal, two females (14, 40) from Barzulla, male (35) from Nowhatta, male (35) from Kanihama, female (NA) from Srg, female (60) from Dalgate Srg, female (60) from Chattabal Srg, male (51) from Safa Kadal, male (31) from Khrew Pul, female (21) from Bemina, female (65) from Harwan, female (40) from Anantnag, male (10) from Uri, two females (42, 59) and male (34) from Rainawari, three males (23, 15, 24) from Parimpora, male (43) and female (08) from Umarabad, female (33) and two males (55, 11) from Budgam, male (48) and female (17) from Madeen Sahib, male (40) from Lal Bazar, two males (40, 36) from Elahibagh, male (22) from Zoonimar and male (45) from Rangpora.

The GMC Anantnag cases female (22) and male (30) from Verinag, male (50) and female (48) from Arabal Doru, female (35) from F M Killam, four males (25, 30, 30, 40) and four females (21, 37, 30, 40) from 511 A Baihama, male (45) from Qaimoh, male (53) from Srandoo, male (35) from Ashmuji, male (27) from Qaimoh, female (39) and male (40) from Harnag, female (45) from Tachloo, female (35) from Khudwani, female (30) from Shahoo Devsar, female (40) from Tengbal, male (30) from Bogund, male (40) from Sopat, male (37) from Zehipora, female (32) from Sopat, female (24) from Sangam, male (23) from Damjan, male (14) from Achabal, female (08) and male (19) from Mehand, male (44) from Kandipora Bij, two males (80, 37) from Khiram Hajipora, female (35) from Budroo, female (55) from Uttersoo Shangus and female (23) from Barariangan Shangus.

Moreover, they said, 1426 more COVID-19 patients have recovered—506 from Jammu and 920 from Kashmir. (GNS)

India logs 67,208 new cases

Front

United News Of India

18/06/2021

New Delhi: India reported 67,208 new cases of the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of infections to 2,97,00,313, the Union Health Ministry said on Thursday.

Besides, the country also saw 2,330 deaths, pushing the total number of fatalities to 3,81,903. The death toll stands at 1.29 per cent.

On Wednesday, India had reported 62,224 cases and 2,542 deaths while 60,471 cases and 2,726 fatalities were recorded on Tuesday.

A total of 1,03,570 patients recuperated during the past 24 hours, pushing the number of recoveries to 2,84,91,670. With these new recoveries, recovery rate jumped from 95.80 per cent to 95.93 per cent.

Now, active caseload further declined to 8,26,740, the lowest after 71 days, shows the data.

Meanwhile, weekly positivity rate is currently pegged at 3.99 per cent.

Daily positivity rate was recorded at 3.48 per cent, less than five per cent for the 10th consecutive day, the Ministry added.

So far, the country has carried out more than 38.52 crore tests.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 38,52,38,220 tests have been conducted, of which 19,31,249 were carried out in the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile, 26,55,19,251 doses have been administered since January 16 this year, of which 34,63,961 were administered in the past 24 hours.

Kerala saw the highest number of cases (13,270), followed by Tamil Nadu (10,448), Maharashtra (10,107) and Karnataka (7,345). (UNI)

OPD services likely to resume in J&K hospitals soon

Front

Jahangeer Ganaie

18/06/2021

By: Jahangeer Ganaie

Srinagar:Jammu and Kashmir government is mulling to resume OPD services in all hospitals of Jammu and Kashmir.

Top health officials said that OPD services will resume at their full strength in non-COVID hospitals across J&K in the coming days.

They said that tertiary care hospitals having separate COVID care facilities will also make their OPDs functional in a phased manner.

They further added that the government is monitoring the situation keenly and the dip in Covid-19 cases has given a sigh of relief and very soon a decision will be taken in this regard.

“We don’t want to risk the lives of people by intermixing Covid patients with non- Covid patients and the hospitals having separate Covid centre will be allowed to resume full OPD services very soon,” they said

After the first wave all OPD services were resumed, however, they were closed again after Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a steep surge during Covid-19 second wave.

Dr Mir Mushtaq, spokesperson of Directorate of Health Services Kashmir said that OPD services in non-Covid hospitals were not closed and elective surgeries have been also resumed in the non -Covid hospitals.

He said that as the situation eases out, all hospitals will resume OPD services in full operation.

Officials from SKIMS said that OPD services haven’t been resumed in full as of now, however, 20 patients per day in all specialties are being treated on daily basis now. (KNO)

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