How the ‘Kashi model’ flattened Covid curve

LUCKNOW: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s repeated praise of the Covid containment strategy in his parliamentary constituency, Varanasi, has trained the spotlight on the Kashi model, which helped flatten the spiralling pandemic curve in district after the second Corona wave struck.
The model envisages smooth and comprehensive steps to provide immediate medical attention to people contracting the virus through creation of micro-containment zones, stated Modi’s trusted aide and former Gujarat cadre IAS officer, Arvind Kumar Sharma, who has been camping in Varanasi for over a month. “The mantra of treating patients at their doorstep (jahan bimaar, wahin upchaar) should be replicated in other districts too,” Sharma said in a tweet. The first point of contact for those seeking immediate medical attention is the Kashi Covid Response Centre, which operates round-the-clock and has 20 telephone lines attended by a 20-member staff who work in three shifts, Sharma tweeted. The centre categorizes people into two categories – asymptomatic and symptomatic. While asymptomatic and those with mild symptoms are given requisite treatment at home, those with high viral load are suggested mandatory admission in a Covid hospital. In both cases, doctors are consulted. The model further stresses on strengthening medical infrastructure to deal with the deluge of patients.
At the same time, Covid patients in home isolation are provided 24x7 medical support by respective primary health centre and community health centres and Covid response team regularly takes updates.
The model also provides constitution of mobile units, which are required to fan out to rural areas to conduct testing and provide medicine to infected people. The move comes amid reports of Covid spurt in villages after the four-phase panchayat elections were held last month.
Sharma is learnt to have met PM Narendra Modi and CM Yogi Adityanath to brief them about the model adopted in Varanasi, which registered a record 2,786 fresh cases on April 24. Sharma, who got elected to UP legislative council as a BJP candidate, soon after taking VRS from the civil services early this year, took vantage position in relief operations in at least 21 east UP districts. A native of a small hamlet in Mau, Sharma has been in touch with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) while managing to mobilise funds with help of the private sector under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).