Kerala health department readies action plan for Sabarimala season

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The health department has prepared an action plan as part of the upcoming Sabarimala pilgrimage season that begins on November 15. The action plan was prepared to control and prevent Covid-19 spread, protect the health of devotees and officials who are on duty in Sabarimala during the pilgrim season. It also will cover control and prevention of other communicable diseases.
In view of the pandemic, all pilgrims with co-morbidities – who have been infected with Covid-19 in the past three months – have been asked to defer their visit and the trek to Sannidhanam due to the high risk of cardiomyopathy.
The trekking route from Pamba to Sannidhanam has been limited to Swamy Ayyappan road and the usage of ‘Kanana patha’ has been restricted to tribesmen to avoid the more strenuous route and thus reduce the risk of emergencies amid the climb. The inflow of pilgrims in Sabarimala has been set at 25,000/day and depending on the study during the first fortnight, further decisions shall be taken.
Treatment facilities, services have been arranged with Pathanamthitta as the core area and the same will be extended to nearby districts like Kottayam, Alappuzha and Idukki.
The services provided includes out-patient and in-patient treatment, anti-snake venom and anti-rabies treatment, intensive cardiac care clinics, operation theatres, oxygen parlours, mobile clinics, referral transport facilities (ambulance), public health activities, trauma care services etc. Oxygen parlours and emergency medical centres will be opened at 16 different places from Pamba to Sannidhanam. First aid facilities, facilities for checking blood pressure, oxygen supply and defibrillator will be ensured at these centres.
Necessary medicines will be provided by the state medical services corporation. A round-the-clock free ambulance service to transport the pilgrims referred to higher centres like the general hospitals in Pathanamthitta and Kottayam medical college will also be arranged. In case of the death of a pilgrim, facilities to transport the body to any district within Kerala or even nearby states will also be ensured.
Government dispensaries will begin functioning at Sannidhanam and Pamba from November 1 and from November 15 in other places. Additional staff, including doctors, will be posted at government hospitals in Nilackal, Charalmedu, Erumely and Pathanamthitta. Cardiologists and pulmonologists from the medical education department will be posted at the government hospital in Sannidhanam and Pamba.
Also, services of paramedical staff such as staff nurses, pharmacists, lab technicians and radiologists will be utilized from other medical colleges.