Surveillance of children in Varanasi division begins

VARANASI: Officials in the Varanasi division consisting of Varanasi, Jaunpur, Ghazipur and Chandauli districts have started surveillance of children in view of the anticipated third wave of Covid-19 pandemic.
In a special surveillance drive launched in the division, among the first 828 samples of minors of 0 to 18 year age group collected on June 1, as many as two — one below 5 year and one in 13-18 age group — tested positive for Covid-19.
The officials, who plan to monitor daily reports of this special surveillance drive, will be able to ascertain the trend and formulate a strategy to nip the problem in the bud.
Providing details of the special surveillance drive regarding minors in 0-18 years of age group, commissioner Deepak Agrawal said, “After completing basic preparations in the paediatric section in the mid of May to meet any challenge arising out of the anticipated third wave of Covid, we finalised a strategy for special surveillance by discussing ways with paediatricians of government and private hospitals. It was then decided to ensure that half of the total samples being collected in Varanasi, Jaunpur, Ghazipur and Chandauli districts of the division daily are of children of 0-18 age group.”
“The 0-18 age group has also been divided in 0-5 year, 6-12 year and 13-18 year age group categories. The surveillance drive started from June 1,” said Agrawal.
“I have been given details of the initial day outcome of Varanasi district only, according to which a total of 828 samples had been collected in all the three above mentioned categories. When lab test reports of the samples were received on Thursday morning, one child in the 0-5 year and one in the 13-18 year age group was found positive,” the commissioner told TOI on Thursday.
“The samples are sent to the BHU lab with special marking in order to receive the results for monitoring and analysing on a day to day basis for knowing the trend. All children reaching paediatricians, including private practitioners, in government hospitals, primary and community health centres with any ailment are being tested,” he said.
“Even private practitioners have been given viral transport medium (VTM) kits used for collection of samples for RT-PCR test in this regard, said Agrawal adding if the daily report of this surveillance will show a trend of growth, the drive to tackle the problem before the situation worsens would be intensified,” he further told TOI.
Taking lessons from the beginning of second wave of Covid-19 pandemic, which had wreaked havoc and led to fatalities due to lack of sufficient oxygen, oxygenated beds and ventilators for surprisingly increased Covid infected persons, the Varanasi administration and health department had not only developed a model to bring the situation under control, but also started preparations for the third wave.
Since May 18, the facility augmentation exercises at the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU), neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the paediatric and chest departments of Sir Sunder Lal (SSL) Hospital of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) were intensified.
Both Agrawal and district magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma also sought information about the available facilities, medical equipment and also requirement of articles necessary for combating the Covid menace in case it affects children as per predictions by experts. The list of companies, which can supply necessary medical equipment for paediatric uses, had also been sought by officials.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath had also taken stock of all these preparations during his May 25 visit to Varanasi.