Bracing to deal with Ebola epidemic which has claimed more than 4000 lives globally, the government took stock of the measures being undertaken for strengthening the preparedness, surveillance and response system in states.
A decision of imparting training to health officials of all states on ways and means to detect and prevent Ebola was taken in a high-level meeting chaired by Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth. The state officials will undergo training in Delhi on October 19-21 and they will return to their respective states and impart training to other officials, government sources said.
In a video conferencing with Chief Secretaries/ Health Secretaries of 19 states/UTs which have international airport/seaport, Seth took stock of the measures being undertaken for strengthening the preparedness, surveillance and response system in the respective states.
Secretaries of Ministries of Health, Home, Shipping, Civil Aviation, External Affairs and Department of Health Research were also present at the meeting.
Even as the Health Ministry will continue to monitor the situation, a control room has been set up at the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. The numbers are 23063205, 23061469 and 23061302. Chief Secretaries have been asked to convene meetings of the State Crisis Management Group at regular intervals for continued vigilance and preparedness.
Some state governments also expressed the need for supply of adequate number of Personal Protective Equipment gear. 50,000 PPE gear procured earlier and available with the central government will be distributed to the states. They have been advised to procure PPEs based on specifications of the Health Ministry.
