COVID-19: Kerala govt keeps tabs on ground through zoom conferences

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 9 (): Kerala, from wherethe country's first three coronavirus positive cases, allWuhan returnees, were detected, is using technology to ensurethat public healthcare system works like a well-oiled machineto tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

The state government has turned its public healthcaresystem into a single interconnected grid to generateuninterrupted information and provide efficient services,thanks to daily video conferences of top health authoritiesfor chalking out a dynamic strategy to tackle the pandemic.

The daily zoom or remote conferences held by HealthMinister K K Sailaja and top health sector officials with themedical and paramedical personnel on the ground have lent acutting edge to the state government's all-out efforts inmonitoring the situation and formulating effective responsesto address the various needs and concerns of the people.

The minister is joined in this meticulous exercise bytop administrators and planners, including Dr Rajan NKhobragade, Principal Secretary, Health; Dr Rathan U Kelker,State Mission Director, National Health Mission, Dr Saritha,Director of Health Services, Dr Ramla Beevi, Director ofMedical Education and other senior officials.

The second round of the conference involves districthospitals, general hospitals, taluk hospitals and the stateMedical College Hospitals to get a clear picture on theground.

This has transformed Kerala's much-vaunted healthcaresystem into a well-oiled single cohesive grid that helpsauthorities keep a tab on COVID-19 in all its facets.

Dr Khobragade said it is during these interactionsthat the essential ingredients required for the day's planningare collected, such as data of patients and those inquarantine, discharged cases, test results, state of hospitalinfrastructure including logistics, stock of testing kits andmedicines, and availability of personnel protection equipment(PPE).

This exercise has been envisaged as a two-waycommunication.

The top brass in the state headquarters will get afirm idea of what is happening on the ground and makesuggestions to those on the ground for managing the situation,as it keeps changing.

The personnel spread across the state and workingday-and-night can put across their requirements anytime, to beaddressed immediately, he added.

A press release quoting Dr Khobragade said the zoomconferences are an important medium for clinical managementdiscussions.

It has proved to be a vital prop in dealing with thisserious health crisis by putting the state's resources to theoptimal use.

Dr R Ramesh, Project Director, Kerala State AIDSControl Society and Chairman of IEC Committee, said as athoroughgoing person, the minister never fails to attend thezoom conference as a medium to gather minute ground leveldetails and formulate strategies accordingly.

This approach not only strengthens the preparedness ofthe system to meet any eventuality but also motivates thepersonnel on the ground.

Thanks to technology, each of us can do it sitting inour room, without compromising social distancing, which is acritical prop in countering the infection, Dr Ramesh, who ispart of the process, said.

Kerala reported its first coronavirus case inJanuary-end.

All the three were treated and discharged.

The meticulous planning and execution of strategies bythe state government, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan,has been hailed by national and international authorities.

The state has 259 active cases and over 1.40 lakhpeople under observation in various hospitals.

There are two fatalities. UD