Working from quarantine, after being discharged from the hospital following COVID -19 infection, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh today reviewed On-line his UdhampurLok Sabha constituency’s COVID management status with the officers of the respective district administrations and public representatives.
The meeting was held through video conference, also because Singh is yet to test negative for COVID after the recent episode of infection and he is still not physically meeting or interacting with anybody.
The meeting covered each of the six main districts of the Lok Sabha constituency, namely Udhampur, Kathua, Reasi, Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar. Among those who participated in the meeting were the respective DDC Chairpersons, respective Deputy Commissioners, respective Municipal Chairpersons, Senior Superintendents of Police, Chief Medical Officers and Principals of the respective Government Medical Colleges. During the meeting, each of the districts was separately engaged in interaction, one by one.
During the meeting, Dr Jitendra Singh emphasised the point that the war against COVID has to be fought collectively and while the health and administrative management are imperative, the optimum results cannot be achieved without participation of community and participation of people’s representatives. He also stressed the need to address the issues of social concern with a human and sensitive approach.
For example, he said, even a single patient requiring an Oxygen bed but not getting it, will cause greater disenchantment and panic in the society compared to hundred other patients who have been cured, recovered and gone home.
Dr Jitendra Singh also suggested that each district should have multiple telephone helplines, which should be vibrant and always available to respond and guide the needy. He instructed all the Deputy Commissioners that once these helplines are in place, the same should be widely publicized among the public because otherwise many needy individuals, in confusion and panic, start posting their requirement for bed or oxygen or medicine on social media platforms, which may not always resolve their issue, but on the contrary tends to spread panic in general.
Dr Jitendra Singh said, he and his office staff are regularly in touch with all the district administration and public representatives on a day-to-day basis and whenever required, he can be accessed for intervention, even though he is currently in post-COVID isolation.