High-level
task force for SARS
Sandesh Prabhudesai
23 April 2003
With India's first SARS patient being detected in Goa, the
tourist state has now pulled up its sleeves by setting up
a high-level task force to monitor education, surveillance
and medical care.
The second laboratory test report of Prasheel Varde, the
32-year Goan marine engineer tested positive for SARS, however
is still awaited from the National Institute of Communicable
Diseases from the national capital.
The state authorities have however shifted their focus to
precautionary measures, since Varde is totally symptom-free
and not dangerous any more in terms of spreading the deadly
disease.
The high-level task force, headed by health minister Dr Suresh
Amonkar, includes two opposition legislators, chief secretary,
health secretary, tourism secretary, dean and some professors
at the Goa Medical College, directors of health, tourism,
transport and information, port trust and airport authorities
and even editors of locals newspapers.
Among the three sub-committees constituted for actual work,
the information and education committee has already started
mass health education and awareness drive through the print
and audio-visual media. The next step is to display and distribute
posters and pamphlets at public places.
"We are also planning to involve the NGOs", Dr
Amonkar told the state Assembly today, while replying to the
calling attention motion moved in this regard by former chief
minister Dr Wilfred de Souza.
While the surveillance committee has been set up for vigilant
checks at the air ports and Mormugao harbour, Dr Amonkar admitted
that surveillance methods for checking at the railway stations
and bus stands is yet to be streamlined.
"Following immediate screening of charter tourist flights
and ships coming at Mormugao port, we are now also seeking
list of passengers landing at other airports in the country
from SARS-infected countries, to check them up at our domestic
air port", he said.
The number of foreign tourists coming to Goa via other metropolitan
cities is almost 65 to 70 per cent, compared to the charter
tourists who land at the Dabolim airport directly. The season
here ends by mid-May.
Though Varde is a Goan, who had gone on a tour to Singapore
and Hong Kong, the state now appears to be vigilant about
the foreigners coming down to Goa as well as Indians coming
back from a trip abroad.
The impact of the awareness campaign is also seen with the
SARS information and counselling centre receiving 105 enquiries
merely in five days, besides eight persons visiting the centre
personally.
Dr Amonkar reiterated in the House today that India, though
a 27th country identified under SARS, is not among the countries
falling under the eight countries having found a local transmission.
"In fact, even this one case is not showing any symptoms
anymore and has not transmitted it to others", he observed.
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