To speed up COVID-19 test in villages, provide training to Asha healthcare workers: Ajit Pawar

In order to strengthen the fight against coronavirus, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, in a review meeting held on Tuesday, May 25 has instructed the officials to emphasised on controlling the rising cases in rural areas of the state.

The meeting was attended by Health Minister Rajesh Tope, Food and Drug Administration Minister Dr. Rajendra Shingane, Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte, Additional Chief Secretary of Finance Debashish Chakraborty, Principal Secretary of Relief and Rehabilitation Asim Kumar Gupta, Secretary of Medical Education and others.

Pawar mentioned that it has been observed that the COVID-19 infection rate is declining in urban areas of the state, it is still increasing in the rural areas. “In order to break the chain of transmission in rural areas, an emphasis should be placed on institutional quarantine instead of home isolation for coronaviruses patients.”

राज्यातील शहरी भागातील कोरोना संसर्ग कमी होत असताना ग्रामीण भागातील संसर्ग वाढत आहे. ग्रामीण भागातील संसर्गाची साखळी तोडण्यासाठी कोरोना बाधितांच्या गृहविलगीकरणाऐवजी संस्थात्मक विलगीकरणावर भर द्यावा.ज्या गावांमध्ये कोरोनाबाधितांची संख्या अधिक आहे,त्याठिकाणी सरसकट चाचण्या कराव्यात.

— Ajit Pawar (@AjitPawarSpeaks) May 25, 2021

Besides, Pawar also stated that Asha health workers should be trained to conduct all the COVID-19 tests to increase the speed of testing. In addition, Village Vigilance Committees should be made more efficient.

“In those villages where the cases are high, comprehensive tests should be done,” he added.

आशा वर्कर्सना प्रशिक्षण देऊन त्यांच्यामार्फत कोरोना चाचण्या कराव्यात. ग्रामदक्षता समित्यांना अधिक क्षमतेनं कार्यान्वित करावं. कडक निर्बंध असणाऱ्या जिल्ह्यात खरिप हंगामाच्या पार्श्वभूमीवर बी-बियाणे, खते, शेती औजारांची दुकानं शेतकऱ्यांच्या सोयीनुसार सुरु ठेवण्याचे नियोजन करावे.

— Ajit Pawar (@AjitPawarSpeaks) May 25, 2021

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Meanwhile, in a relief to the farmers, Pawar said that in districts where there are strict restrictions, on the backdrop of kharif season, it is planned to keep the shops of seeds, fertilizers, agricultural implements open for the convenience of the farmers.

Moreover, he also directed officials to conduct oxygen, electric and fire audits of hospitals in the state by approving 25 per cent of funds from the 15th Finance Commission as well as secondary mineral funds for health expenditure.