Srinagar, May 8: Special Secretary to Government, Finance Department, and former Deputy Commissioner of Kulgam Dr Shamim Ahmad Wani has died due to Covid-19 at GMC Jammu, officials said.
They said that 54-year-old officer was admitted to GMC Jammu and breathed his last at around 11:30 hours, a senior doctor told GNS.
The 1999-batch KAS officer was admitted to GMC Jammu, one of the important facilities for the management of the covid-19 patients, recently, the doctor added.
Jammu, May 7: Senior Resident Doctor, Department of Internal Medicine, GMC Jammu, Dr Rajesh Minia on Friday urged people especially the mild category patients not to take steroids unnecessarily and without doctor’s advice.
The doctor in an official statement issued by the department of Information cautioned, ‘Only an expert doctor can diagnose better, especially in case a patient has other diseases in addition to Covid infection.’
The doctor in the statement went on to say that most of the Covid-19 patients fell under the ‘mild’ category and they do not need oxygen support at all.
“The regular check of oxygen saturation levels and taking appropriate medicines is enough for such patients to recover,” said the senior resident doctor.
Explaining the types of Covid-19 patients, Dr Minia says that they are of three types- mild, moderate and severe. “While most of the patients are of mild category and can recover easily, it is only the moderate and severe cases which need special care and treatment,” he informed.
Dr Minia advised all patients to regularly check their oxygen saturation levels and get alerted only if the levels fall below 93. If such a severe level is reached, he says, that patients should contact a doctor immediately.
He also requested the public not to hoard oxygen cylinders unnecessarily, thereby causing shortage for the needy.
Dr Rajesh Minia has also requested the patients to take doctors’ advice seriously, follow Covid-preventive protocols and make way for severe patients by not occupying covid-care beds against doctors’ advice.
He informed that a round-the-clock Divisional Control Room has been established to address all medical advice and queries and can be reached at 0191-2520982, 2549676, 2674444, 2674115, 2674908.
Meanwhile, according to the official report 54 covid patients have been discharged in the past 24 hours including 16 from GMC Jammu, 19 from Chest Disease & TB Hospital, 4 from Super Specialty Hospital and 15 from MCH Jammu. In all, 2673 patients have recovered from these hospitals till date.
In GMC Jammu, 60 Covid-19 patients have been admitted in the past 24 hours, 11 have been admitted in Chest Disease & TB Hospital, 1 in Super Specialty Hospital and 21 in MCH Jammu.
In the past 24 hours, GMC Jammu has reported 19 Covid-19 deaths and one other has been reported from Chest Disease & TB Hospital Jammu.
In GMC Jammu and other Category-II dedicated Covid Health Centres, 617 out of 804 Covid dedicated beds are occupied, while 117 are still vacant; 106 out of 688 oxygen beds are also vacant in these hospitals.
Ramban, May: A Covid positive woman delivered a healthy baby at the District Hospital Ramban in Jammu region. The babeywas born by caesarean section.
Hospital sources told news agency Kashmir News Turst that the woman was operated upon successfully by a team of doctors.
The team of doctors which carried out the surgery was led by Dr Asmat Rounyal.
This is the first time such a surgery has been performed on a Covid positive woman at District Hospital Ramban.
Speaking to KNT, medical superintendent of the District Hospital Ramban said that the baby is in good health.
“Post the surgery, the mother and the bay are doing fine. The baby has been tested negative for Covid-19,” he said.
Meanwhile, Medical Superintendent DH Ramban in a tweet said: “First COVID positive patient’s delivery conducted successfully at District Hospital, Ramban by Dr Asmat Rounyal and her team, following all Covid-19 SoPs. Both mother and baby are fine.” (KNT)
May 07: Police in Baramulla have arrested a person accused of rape from Pattan area of the district within 24 hours.
On 06/05/2021, Police Post Mirgund received a written complaint from one person stating therein that his minor daughter (name withheld) aged about 14 years was raped by one person namely Asif Hussain Bhat son of Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Bhat resident of Odina Pattan before two days.
On receiving this complaint, a case under relevant sections of law was registered in Police Station Pattan and investigation was set into motion.
During the course of investigation, a special team was constituted who acted swiftly and arrested the accused person involved in the crime. He has been shifted to Police Station where he remains in custody. Further investigation in the matter is going on.
Community members are requested to cooperate with police in curbing social crimes in their neighbourhood. They can share information pertaining to social crimes with police. We reassure the community members that our efforts in curbing social crimes shall continue.
Srinagar, May 07: Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Friday said lactating mothers who are positive for Covid-19 infection can breastfeed their babies.
“Breastfeeding in newborns of mothers with Covid is totally safe,” said DAK President and influenza expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan.
“There is no evidence that the virus can spread through mother’s milk,” he said.
Quoting a study published in Lancet, Dr Hassan said mothers with Covid-19 are unlikely to pass the virus to their newborns.
“The study found no case of transmission of the virus from the mother to the baby after 2 weeks of breastfeeding,” he said.
Dr Hassan said hygiene precautions are to be observed during feeding.
“Lactating mothers should wash hands before and after touching the baby and wear a mask while nursing,” he said.
“It is not advisable to use a mask on newborn unless they are at least 2 years of age.”
The DAK President said if the mother is separated from the newborn, expressed milk by hand or pump should be given to the baby.
“Use your own breast pump and wear a mask during expression,” he said.
“Wash your hands before touching any pump or bottle parts or before expressing breast milk. Clean all parts of the pump and bottle after each use,” he added.
“If you are unable to start producing milk or if you have to temporarily stop breastfeeding during your Covid-19 illness, because you don’t feel well enough, get help from a lactating support provider,” said Dr Nisar.
“Breast milk is the best source of nutrients for newborns and keeps their immunity high. It protects the newborns from getting sick and also helps protect them throughout their infancy and childhood. Breastfeeding should be initiated within 1 hour of the birth and continued exclusively for 6 months and introduce adequate and safe complimentary food at age 6 months and continue breastfeeding up to 2 years of age or beyond,” he said.
Srinagar, May 7 : Stating that the fresh lockdown has pushed people who survive on daily earnings to starvation in Jammu and Kashmir, the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI), President, Sheikh Ashiq has appealed the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha to announce “financial sustenance package” for the affected.
In a statement issued, Ashiq said: “While the business community was still struggling to revive after the unprecedented developments since August 2019, the fresh spell of lockdown has created havoc for many of the families, which survive on daily earnings.”
From the transporters to Shikara Walas to small shopkeepers, people from various walks of life including local labourers and street vendors have not been able to earn even a penny,” the KCCI president said.
One can only imagine the plight of families who have not been able to earn anything in the given conditions,” he added.
He said given the fact the several states have already announced special financial packages for affected people, it was the responsibility of Raj Bhawan to announce similar or even magnanimous packages for the affected in Jammu and Kashmir.
Ashiq said in the absence of a “democratically elected government”, all hopes are pinned on Raj Bhawan for providing succour to the people in these testing times.
He said the Raj Bhawan should also start free meals for the Covid patients and their attendants undergoing treatment at government facilities.
The KCCI also sought public cooperation in making the fight against Covid19 a success.
“Every effort in these testing times have to be collective and Raj Bhawan will have to take a lead on this for a collective response to the crises which has befallen on Jammu and Kashmir,” the Kashmir Inc President said.
The KCCI also sought improvement in the distribution of oxygen to the affected families.
Ashiq also appealed to the people to refrain from any hoarding of life-support systems like oxygen concentrators once the patient recovers.
Ashiq hailed the humanitarian groups, which have been working day and night to provide assistance to the affected.
Baramulla: Police in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district arrested a rape accused.
The accused has alleged raped a minor girl.
Police sources told news agency Kashmir News Trust that a written compliant was received from a resident of Udina village of Baramulla, stating that his 14 year-old minor daughter (name withheld) was raped by one namely Asif Hussain Bhat, a 16-year old teen from the same village.
According police station Pattan registered an FIR vide number 102/2021 under section 376 and 4 POSCO and launched a manhunt to nab the accused.
“The accused was well aware about his act and was trying to evade his arrest. Police party from Police Post Mirgund acted swiftly and arrested the accused.”
The investigation of the matter is going on, police said. (KNT)
Poonch, May 7: Setting a unique example of communal harmony, a Muslim driver cremated a Covid-19 infected Hindu woman after her death in Mendhar area of Poonch district in Jammu Division.
Local sources told news agency Kashmir News Trust that a mentally unsound Hindu woman died of Covid-19 at Sub-District Hospital Mendhar. They said homeless Hindu woman was living with a mental disability.
A Muslim ambulance driver identified as Mir Ahmed stepped in despite warned by people and cremated the body of the woman.
They said that people refused to touch the body of the woman for fear of Coronavirus, but the Muslim driver while setting the example of communal harmony cremated the body without any fear.
The driver is an employee of Jammu and Kashmir Health and Family Welfare Department. (KNT)
Srinagar: J&K Anjuman Sharie Shian’s president Aga Syed Hassan Mosavi called on Muslims all over the world to unite in solidarity with the Palestinians against the Zionist, colonial entity of Israel.
Aga Hassan said, “the Zionist script, is an extension of colonialism and Apartheid, never see in the history of human kind. It set out to viciously and violently occupy all of Palestine, by changing its demographics through ethnic cleansing, terrorism and genocide. The first wave of expulsion in 1948 was followed by many more; all intended for the establishment and implementation of this evil system. The definitive target is to Judaize the city of Al Quds by removing the Islamic, Arabic and Christian characters of the city. Its policy remains inflammatory.”
He said, “Israel’s strategy in Al-Quds is a clear violation of international law, numerous resolutions of the Security Council and the UN General Assembly, concerning the rights of the Palestinian people and for the past half a century or more, the Arab world has been in a vicious cycle and its people have been suffering from a state of imbalance and an uncertain future.”
Aga Hassan further said, “this is the doing of their leaders, who have bargained with the Palestinian cause. Their leadership positions took precedence over the Palestinian resistance to the illegal occupation. They believed that the cause is the price to be paid in exchange for maintaining their oppressive, political leadership positions. Hence, these Arab leaders have become the guards for Israel’s “borders” and its agents in the region, governing in accordance with what is dictated to them. They seek to normalise political and economic relations with the Zionist state and foster military partnerships with it. They are also moving towards forming an Arab axis consisting of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, along with Israel, in order to confront Iran, their “perceived” common enemy.”
Aga Syed Hassan retreated that the Kashmir issue is a reality. Peace and development cannot be established in the regions without the resolution of the Kashmir issue.
He said that it was incumbent upon the leadership of both Delhi and Islamabad to start an initiative over Kashmir as strained relations between them are of “NO”help
Srinagar, May 05: Experts on Wednesday said that the peak of the second wave of Covid-19 is yet to come in Jammu and Kashmir and it is expected to hit the region in coming two to three weeks.
Former director SKIMS, Chairman Covid Advisory Committee and renowned Gastroenterologist Dr Mohammed Sultan Khuroo while talking exclusively with—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that peak of second wave of Covid-19 is expected in next three weeks, till then cases of Covid-19 will surge further.
He said that the fight against COVID needs to be intensified and it shall take more efforts from the administration and public to control the surge given the pathogen which is more infectious and can evade and cause breakthrough infections.
“Travel discipline to J&K needs to be implemented and all travelers who board a plane or a train/bus to visit/travel J&K must have a prior RT-PCR negative certificate,” Khuroo said.
“The test needs to be repeated at the entry point, at least by a rapid antigen test. Those who are positive must be quarantined strictly to avoid the spread of infection,” he said.
Khuroo said that testing and tracing policy should be intensified and made more realistic.
“Rapid testing should be limited to specific circumstances and the RT-PCR facility must be made more available and quicker,” he said. “Vaccine hesitancy needs to be fought and the vaccination program must be strengthened. This shall reduce infections and further mutations.”.
Doctors Association President and flu expert Dr Nisar Ul Hassan while talking with KNO said that at that estimate the peak of the second wave is about to come in the next 15 days.
He said at least 3 percent patients tested positive for Covid-19 need hospitalisation and oxygen support.
“And if the cases continue to surge with the current speed our hospitals won’t be able to cope up and in order to break the chain there is need to continue restrictions for these three months,” Hassan said.
“There is need to remain further cautious and not to lower the guard even if cases start declining,” he said, adding that fresh waves can come anytime and could be more deadly as most of the population is yet to be vaccinated.
Hassan said that the virus is behaving differently and the only predictability about this virus is that it is unpredictable.
Renowned Pulmonologist Dr Khursheed while talking with KNO said that situation is very severe and beds at most of the leading hospitals including CD hospital are full, while peak of the wave is expected in next three weeks.
“The need of the hour is that people must impose self lockdown and don’t wait for government lockdown so that we can make the chain weak,” Dr Khursheed said.
Khursheed said that it is community transmission and there are hardly few households who are yet to contract the virus and people must keep their movement restricted to their lawns.
“People must remain extra cautious and anyone having symptoms must get tested and there is no need to rush to the hospital if anyone comes positive as around 85 positive patients need mild treatment and good hydration,” he said—(KNO)