Author: hamid

Our son tested positive at G B Panth, was referred to JVC where officials asked us to visit ward on own risk; Having no option, took my child to ward; later me and my wife fell to Covid too; Docs could have treated my kid in room only; Won’t tolerate such happenings, let parent identify, will take stern action, says Principal JVC

Srinagar, Jan 24: The story of a desperate parents, whose eight-month-old son showed mild symptoms of fever at home on Saturday, who later tested positive for Covid at children hospital G B Panth, Sonwar, Srinagar, where from he was asked to visit JVC Bemina for treatment. At JVC Bemina, the father of the kid was asked by officials to take the child to ward at “his own risk where majority of patients are already positive as the hospital is already a Covid designated one.”

The struggle put in by the kid’s father, Nasir Ahmed, a resident of Srinagar, has taken a lid-off the tall claims of “quality health care and Covid management available for one and all in Srinagar.”

“My child developed mild fever and I decided to take him right away to G B Panth which is a children’s hospital. There, doctors tested my child who was declared Covid positive. Instead of treating him there, I was asked to take my kid to JVC Bemina,” Nasir told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

He said without wasting time, he took his child to JVC Bemina where he was taken bya surprise. “After waiting for a while at JVC, officials there told me to take the child to ward at my own risk where there are already Covid positive patients. I told them how can I take such a risk as the hospital is already Covid designated,” said Nasir, who had no option other than to get his son checked in the ward.

“Now irony is that after visiting the ward, not just me, my wife also got infected and after testing ourselves, both of us came as positive for Covid,” said Nasir, adding that why it is mandatory to visit the ward in JVC and why there is none to see children at the entry point or a room.

“This happened to me, what would be fate of people who can’t even afford to travel during evening hours incase of emergency.”

Medical Superintendent GB Pant, Dr Nazir Choudhary when asked about the development said that JVC has been designated as the Covid hospital while the children who test positive are being referred to the particular hospital to ensure that the lives of other patients are not put at risk.

However, Principal JVC hospital, Dr Irfan Rubani told KNO that it is an unbelievable incident and the attendant, who has witnessed such a situation, should meet him in person and identify the official so that a stern action is initiated against him.

“It is Covid designated hospital and we won’t allow anyone who is negative to ensure that his health is not put at risk. But, we are here for the patients and will always ensure better treatment to those visiting here. If the official is identified, we will ensure strict action against him,” he said—(KNO)

Every drug becomes poison if overdosed, people should avoid self medication: Experts

Srinagar, Jan 24 : Antibiotics like Dolo, Azithromycin, Nicep, Levocitrezene are selling like hot cakes in Jammu and Kashmir as self medication shows an increasing trend since the emergence of Covid-19 third wave.

Experts and doctors told the local news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that people, whoever, are having any symptoms avoid visiting hospitals and prefer to go to chemist shops and resort to self medication.

They said since the beginning of Covid-19, people have resorted to self-medication but it has increased manifold in the third wave.

They said that the positivity rate currently is very high but around 90 percent of the positive patients are in home isolation and without consulting doctors most of them are resorting to self-medication.

“Taking antibiotics too often or for the wrong reasons can change bacteria so much that antibiotics don’t work against them. This is called bacterial resistance or antibiotic resistance. Some bacteria then become resistant to even the most powerful antibiotics available,” experts said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to one-third to one-half of antibiotic use in humans is unnecessary or inappropriate.

The appropriate use of antibiotics — often called antibiotic stewardship — can help to preserve the effectiveness of current antibiotics, extend the lifespan of current antibiotics, protect people from antibiotic-resistant infections and avoid side effects from using antibiotics inappropriately.

Dr Owais Ahmad from GMC Anantnag said that every other person is suffering from flu like illness these days most likely Covid (Omicron Variant) until proved otherwise with common symptoms being itchy, scratchy throat (most common), running nose, fever, dry cough while some people have associated body aches and headache

He said that the symptoms usually resolve within a week but the matter of concern is self medication as people are taking medicines on their own by visiting local medical shops (which otherwise need to be strictly taken under medical supervision).

He requested people to avoid self medications which can be detrimental especially in those who are suffering from chronic diseases like HTN, diabetes, chronic liver and kidney diseases

“Antibiotic resistance is a huge concern amid self medication with antibiotics due to inappropriate dose and regimens,” he said, adding that overdose of antibiotics damages the liver mostly.

Owais said that every patient doesn’t need paracetamol or antibiotics and people should avoid self-medication at any cost which otherwise can prove dangerous as every drug becomes poisonous when it is overdosed.

“People just need to take symptomatic treatment under medical supervision and watch their pulse rate, saturation and respiratory rate,” he said.

“I request people to strictly adhere to Covid Appropriate Behavior (CAB) especially wearing of masks and maintaining physical distance besides that take a good protein diet apart from boosting your immunity by taking ample fruits,” Owais said. “People are also requested to get themselves vaccinated as soon as possible as both morbidity and mortality rates are significantly lower in vaccinated people.”—(KNO)

GENEVA, Jan 24 (Reuters) – The head of the World Health Organization on Monday urged countries to work together to bring the acute phase of the pandemic to an end, saying that they now have all the tools available to do so.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is now entering its third year and we are at a critical juncture,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at a press conference alongside Germany’s development minister Svenja Schulze.

“We must work together to bring the acute phase of this pandemic to an end. We cannot let it continue to drag on, lurching between panic and neglect.”

Tedros said on Monday that Germany had become the agency’s largest donor, without giving details. Historically, the United States has made the biggest financial contribution among member states to the organisation.

Schulze said that the top priority of Germany, which took over the G7 Presidency, is to end the pandemic worldwide and called for a “massively accelerated, truly global vaccination campaign” in order to do so.

The event in Geneva kicks off a week of WHO Executive Board meetings where key aspects of the U.N. health agency’s future are due to be discussed, including Tedros’ bid for a second term and a proposal to make the agency more financially independent. (REUTERS)

Srinagar, Jan 24: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) is likely to announce the annual regular results of class 10th and 12th, of Kashmir Division, in the second week of February, an official informed on Monday.

Board of School Education Joint Secretary Prof. Aijaz Ahmad Hakak told GNS that the processes involved are in progress.

“Results are under process and have to undergo several stages before declaration. First stage has been completed and the second one is in process”, he said adding most probably the results of both the classes will be declared in the second week of February if situation arisen due to COVID goes well,” Aijaz added.

Meanwhile, Director Academics BOSE, Dr. Farooq Ahmad Peer also maintained that results will be announced in the second week of February.

Pertinently, the examinations of Class 12th culminated in the 2nd week of December while 10th exams concluded in the first week of December last year. (GNS)

104 to 135 militants ready to infiltrate into this side. Says Some guides have crossed over to Pak; their movement, their families under surveillance; shelf life of militants restricted to 6-8 weeks; procuring own drones to counter drone threat on  LoC, 17.3 kg heroin worth Rs 88 Crores seized last year

Srinagar, Jan 24: Inspector General of Border Security Force (BSF) Kashmir frontier Raja Babu Singh Monday said that post ceasefire agreement last year, the overall situation on Kashmir LoC remained peaceful but the fresh intelligence inputs suggest that 104 to 135 militants are ready to sneak into this side. He also said that some guides have crossed over to the other side of LoC and their movement and their families are under constant watch of security agencies.

Addressing the annual conference at BSF headquarters at Humhama on city outskirts, the IG BSF for Kashmir Frontier said that post ceasefire agreement in February last year, the situation has been peaceful on the LoC. “But our inputs suggest that there are 104 to 135 militants at the launch pads, who are ready to infiltrate into this side,” the IG BSF said, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO)

He said that there are also reports that some guides have crossed over to the other side of the LoC. “Their movement is being tracked and their families are under constant watch. The primary job of the guide is to bring groups of militants along,” he said.

Asked about the drone threats on LoC, the IG BSF said that it guards 96 kms of LoC in Kashmir and the drone threat was real. “We are procuring our own drones to counter the drone threat. Besides, a series of measures are in place to deal with drone threats,” he said.

He said that last year 17.3 kg heroin worth Rs 88 Crore were seized on the LoC by BSF and all efforts are being made to foil bids aimed at transporting narcotics from LoC. He said that Taliban takeover in Afghanistan last year hasn’t affected J&K in any form so far, but “security agencies are monitoring situation closely.”— (KNO)

The entry and exit from the containment area remain temporarily restricted

Amid COVID surge, Syedwari Khanyar, Batwara near Masjid, Mount View Colony Zakura, Narwara Eidgah, Nowpora Seki-Dafar, Batpora near marriage hall, Mahrajpora Batpora, Iqbal Muhalla Telibal, Geelan Lane Kanitar Hazratbal, Hamza Hills Exchange Colony Nishat, Jeelanabad Sector B Peerbagh, SD Colony near Guzar Ahle-Hadees masjid Batamaloo, Hyderpora near JK Bank, Lawaypora and Muslimabad Tengpora localities declared micro-containment zones in Srinagar

“The SSP Srinagar shall ensure the Entry/Exit points in the Containment zone are sealed except one designate entry/exit point for emergency purposes only; and restrictions on movement of the people in containment zones are affected in letter and spirit as the SOP,” reads the order issued by J&K Administration.

Srinagar: Restaurant and café owners in Kashmir valley are facing huge hardships to survive amid lockdowns in the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns day by day.

Sheikh Feroz, president Kashmir Restaurants & Cafes Association said, “We have already urged all our association members to follow strict COVID-19 SOPs as directed by the district administrations from time to time so that smooth and normal business of restaurants and Cafes all across the valley will not hinder as alarming raise of positive cases of COVID-19 in union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

“Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in the world and especially in Jammu and Kashmir, all the business activities came to standstill and it is our moral duty to keep the safety of clients and ourselves in this turbulent time on top priority and such safety measures during this Covid-19 pandemic in Jammu & Kashmir Union territory will play an important role for smooth running of hotels, restaurants and Cafes all across the valley,” he said.

Sheikh Feroz further said that during the last two lockdowns of Covid-19 pandemic in India and abroad, The restaurant and café business reeled under this challenge particularly because a large number of them are small to medium scale businesses with limited capacity to sustain through long periods of slow business. The post lockdown phase saw the reopening of the restaurant business but the pandemic continued to have its impact on this sector.”

“Last year we met the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar and explained how the restaurant industry in Kashmir is struggling with losses in Covid-19 lockdowns. Till now, the owners of the restaurants were somehow managing to pay the salaries and other exigencies, but now it is becoming extremely difficult for them to continue making the payments without the businesses running,” RAK president said.

The president said that amid a surge in COVID cases in Kashmir, the people associated with the restaurant business are in distress fearing an upsurge in cases will dent their businesses badly and in winter months their business usually remains down, but they had high expectations from the coming months which now they feel will be spoiled by the spread of COVID.

He further said that the business and footfall of customers has nosedived and added that the online orders and takeaways business has also been affected.

“Everyone has been affected in one or another way. Although all the members of our association follow all the SOPs as directed by district administrations from time to time and during the past few years it was already challenging and now business was back to normal but this new wave has crippled the business in a huge way,” he said.

Sheikh Feroz further said, “In the past few years, like other businesses, restaurants and cafés switched to online delivery systems but as the COVID affected the dine-in, it has also impacted the online delivery and takeaways.”