Returnee migrants in Odisha to get certificate course to work as Covid-19 volunteers after completion of quarantine period

BHUBANESWAR: The returnee migrants quarantined in different temporary medical camps of the state would get a brief certificate course on Covid-19 to work as Covid volunteers after completion of their quarantine period.
The decision was taken at a high-level review meeting chaired by chief minister Naveen Patnaik through videoconferencing on Tuesday.
As the Ganjam district administration has started the initiative to impart special training to the returnees at the migrants, the chief minister directed officials to replicate it across the state, said an official statement.
“Since the fight against Covid-19 would be long, support of the community to contain the pandemic is crucial. The initiative of the Ganjam administration is praiseworthy. Hence, it has been decided to impart similar training to the migrants during their 21 days stay in various quarantine centres,” said a senior government official.
The health and family welfare department is likely to prepare a brief course module with focus on social distancing, using mask and maintaining personal hygiene, said an official source.
Keeping in mind the spike in Covid-19 positive cases and also in view of return of migrants from other states, Naveen asked the officials to enhance bed strength in the Covid care centres in districts like Ganjam, Balasore, Kendrapada, Bhadrak, Jajpur and Balangir within a week. Though Kendrapada and Balangir are yet to see in cases, around 70 per cent of state’s total cases reported from the remaining four districts.
During the review meeting, the chief minister also asked the officials to ensure proper management of the quarantine centres or the temporary medical camps in the rural areas. He emphasized on strengthening the panchayati raj institutions (PRI) in the state recognizing the role of PRI members like Sarpanches and ward members in the fight against Covid.
The chief minister also directed to take special care of pregnant women, lactating mothers, children and Divyangs at the quarantine centres. Official sources said the district administrations have been asked to allow the pregnant women, lactating mothers, children and Divyangs to be in home quarantine after conducting their tests on priority basis.