The minister noted that India has so far reported 1.25 million cases and more than 30,000 deaths. (File)
New Delhi:
Union Health Minister Dr Harsha Vardhan said on Friday that India had taken up the challenge of COVID-19 with the highest level of political commitment, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally monitoring the situation and ensuring a preventive, proactive and gradual response.
Speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Health Ministers Meeting, Dr Harsha Vardhan expressed his deepest condolences for the loss of lives around the world due to COVID 19.
He also expressed his “sincere gratitude” for the efforts of those on the front lines of this battle.
“The world is facing an unprecedented disaster, which has so far affected the entire planet, resulting in nearly 15 million cases and 0.6 million deaths worldwide,” said the Minister.
“In India, we have met the challenge of COVID 19 with the highest level of political commitment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally monitored the situation and ensured a preventive, proactive and graduated response. Leaving no stone unturned to contain the murderer. virus from spreading, ”he said.
The minister noted that India has so far reported 1.25 million cases and more than 30,000 deaths from COVID-19 and said India has one of the cases and deaths per million population the lowest, 864 cases per million and less than 21 deaths per million. of our population.
“Our cure rate is 63.45%, while our mortality is among the lowest in the world at 2.3%,” he said.
The minister stressed that India had started its preparedness measures long before the epidemic was even declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization.
“In an attempt to slow the transmission of the disease, India has taken some very bold steps, such as implementing a nationwide lockdown in the early stages. Three consecutive lockdowns have given India the necessary time and opportunity to strengthen its technical know-how, laboratory capacity, hospital infrastructure and also to strengthen its pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical interventions, ”he said.
Stressing that the disease surveillance program in the country has recruited 3.2 million people for community-based monitoring, the minister said: “The laboratory network has been extended to nearly 1,300 laboratories capable of testing RT -PCR. We have performed over 15 million RT-PCR tests to date and are now performing over 0.35 million tests per day, with a quantum expected to perform 1 million tests each day. “
“The TruNat and CBNAAT machines have been reused to test for COVID-19. In addition, point-of-care antigen-based testing has been introduced in a major way in containment areas,” he said.
The minister said local technology has been harnessed to set up temporary hospitals to house up to 10,000 patients in a single facility.
Today, we have more than 15,000 COVID-19 treatment facilities with a total isolation bed capacity of 1.4 million, he said.
He further pointed out that in terms of logistics India did not have a single manufacturer of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and now “the country has developed a local capacity in recent months as the country can export quality PPE “.
“A similar scale-up was also carried out to reach other local capacities and reduce the demand and the supply gap for ventilators and medical oxygen,” he said.
“We have used information technology in virtually every aspect of COVID management; the Aarogya Setu app and ITIHAS, a cell tracking technology have been used for the surveillance and identification of potential disease clusters, the RT-PCR application for tests, the Facility application for the management of information on admitted patients and the capacity of hospital beds, all integrated into a single COVID portal, ”he added.
The minister asserted that India had taken all necessary measures well on time, including surveillance, strengthening of health infrastructure, capacity building of over two million frontline human resources, risk communication and community participation.
“I think we have done our best and we have done well. We are learning and we are confident to do better in the coming months,” he said.
The system of traditional Indian medicine has also made a significant contribution to enhancing the immunity of the general population, the minister said.
“India would like to propose the creation of a new subgroup on traditional medicine within the framework of the existing institutional meetings of the ministers of health of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO),” he said. while adding that to discuss this proposal and identify areas of cooperation, India has already released on June 26, 2020, a concept paper on holding an online seminar on the “ Role of traditional systems of medicine for achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-3) at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)) Member States ”.
“India seeks the kind support of all member states for its proposal to create a separate subgroup on traditional medicine as part of the health ministers meeting,” said Dr Harsha Vardhan.
He called on all member countries of this prestigious group to work together and fight COVID-19 to mitigate its impact on health and the economy.
“I stand here to honor the doctors, nurses, paramedics, scientists, journalists, military and paramilitary forces, airport staff, delivery men and sanitation personnel … forgotten roles that play today ” superhumans. “These are our real heroes. Thank you to our Corona warriors. You are nothing less than God to mankind,” he said.
