Chhattisgarh Health Minister T.S. Singh Deo joined NewsX for a conversation about tackling black fungus, creating awareness about Covid-19 in rural areas and more. Excerpts:
Q. How is the state government preparing to tackle the new health challenge of black fungus?
We are keeping the third wave in our vision and preparing as per that. Although, there was never a deficiency of oxygen supply in the state, due to the volatile nature of the virus we can’t keep our guards off. So, the state machinery is ensuring to have sufficient stock of all the necessary logistics needed like ventilators, oxygen cylinders, medicines, injections, and other important stuff being suggested by healthcare experts.
Q. How is Chhattisgarh educating the people in the rural areas to tackle the Covid situation and ensuring precautions?
Asha workers have worked in a dedicated manner to ensure the reach of essential facilities in such 100 to 150 villages which were lacking direct connectivity from urban areas. The virus itself is a foreigner due to which places that has no direct connectivity from cities and metro areas are naturally immune from the virus. We have made orders for all the essential healthcare equipment to make sure that when needed we use it significantly instead of looking here and there.
Q. Black Fungus is posing another threat. How is the state preparing itself to cope up with it?
We have 102 such cases in the state. Raipur has 73 cases, maximum in the state. The early trend suggests that it enters via the nasal passage and can have a drastic effect on the eyes and brain. Also, it has been observed that the medication of Black Fungus is really expensive and I am planning to convey the same to the Central government as not everyone can afford it so that something can be done about the same.
Q. What’s the status of the vaccine in the state? Are you experiencing smooth coordination with the Centre?
A total of 7 crore vaccines are being manufactured in the country but that is not enough as per the population of the country. Different strategies have to be accommodated in terms of the number of vaccines we are manufacturing.
Q. How will the state ensure the welfare of those kids who have lost their parents due to Covid-19?
Under Chhattisgarh Mahtari Dulari Yojna, we have decided that we will take care of those kids who lost their parents. Unemployment is a different subject on which we are discussing with different stakeholders.
Besides this, we have observed a little bit of hesitation amongst the public when it comes to approaching hospitals for Black Fungus but we are trying to educate them and are convincing them to consult doctors and get admitted to the hospitals for early medication.
