Dr Abid assesses Health Agencies readiness amid Monkeypox emergency

August 20: Secretary Health & Medical Education, Dr Syed Abid Rashid today reviewed the preparedness of public health agencies across J&K in the light of recent declaration of Monkeypox as a an emergency by World Health Organisation (WHO).During the meeting, the Secretary directed all stakeholders to take proactive measures to ensure full preparedness to handle any situation.He asked all HODs, to conduct mock drills across the state and to impart training to all health officials regarding logistics and transportation concerned with potential situations.He asked all the HODs to dedicate isolation wards across all health facilities in the state for the purpose.Also, all the HODs were directed to ensure activation of testing, treating, contact tracing centres for monkeypox virus, should there be a need.All the HODs were directed to review the stock position of related consumables, disposables and drugs to ensure that everything is in place at grassroot level in case need arises.The MD-JKMSCL was asked to strengthen the supply and demand of logistics like testing kits, ppe kits, disposable and drugs.All the institutions across J&K were directed to maintain high vigil for any exigency.