Orders issued 9 months ago; Rural areas in J&K crave for Health clubs

Srinagar: Despite the orders issued nine months back, the Jammu and Kashmir government is yet to come up with Health clubs in the rural areas. Health Clubs were announced to be set up at the Panchayat level across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in the month of September 2020 in order to check spread of COVID-19.The Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education Department, Atal Dulloo vide Government Order No.720 dated September 18, 2020 had accorded sanction to the setting up of Health Clubs at Panchayat level.The order reads, “Sanction is hereby accorded to the setting up of Health Clubs at panchayat Level in collaboration with Panchayat Raj Institutions to help in screening and identification of suspects & managing suspects/ pre-symptomatic / asymptomatic / very mild cases of COVID-19 infection at Village / Town level in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir”.The official document also read that the Health Club will comprise of Sarpanch (Chairman), Panchs, volunteers from the community, Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) from the Sub-Centre (Member Secretary), Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA), Anganwari Workers, Booth Level Workers, Self Help Groups and Panchayat Secretary.“The health club members will monitor the temperature of persons under Quarantine/isolation. Also, the health club will monitor Oxygen Saturation with Finger Pulse Oxymeters of persons under Quarantine/isolation, surveillance activities in coordination with health authorities, and Screening and surveillance of travellers arriving in the village,” it reads.Also, the health club members will be Informing Block Medical Officer of any suspected case of COVID 19. Monitor Home Quarantine/ isolation, awareness generation of community-related to COVID 19, whereas ensuring installation and use of the Arogya Setu App shall be advised to all and Dissemination of 108 Ambulance Services.Also, the Rural Development Department was to ensure that all Health Clubs work in close coordination with concerned Block Medical Officer and submit weekly reports on number of people screened, number of quarantined persons, number of isolated positive cases and number of referral.Pertinently, if Health Clubs will be set up on time, it can help in tackling the wave-II of Covid-19 and help in combating wave-III of the virus.