The Covid-19 viral infection has once again been spreading throughout the nation’s states, and in recent days, the area of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has seen an increase in the number of sufferers. May could see a rise in the number of Covid patients, according to the Union Ministry of Health. In light of this, Iqbal Singh Chahal, Municipal Commissioner and Administrator, pleaded for all BMC hospitals as well as all private hospitals to be furnished with the necessary medical equipment for the treatment of COVID. Although it is not mandatory, particularly senior citizens above 60 years of age should wear masks as a precautionary measure while walking in crowded places. Also, it will be mandatory for all the employees, patients, and visitors to wear masks in all BMC hospitals, he said.

On April 10, 2023, Iqbal Singh Chahal, Commissioner & Administrator of BMC, convened an emergency meeting to assess the readiness of Mumbai’s health services in light of the rising number of Covid patients. Dr. Sanjeev Kumar, Principal Secretary-2 of the Public Health Department (Government of Maharashtra), N. Nawin Sona, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Eastern Suburbs) Shrimati Ashwini Bhide, Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Ashish Sharma, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) P. Velrasu, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Western Suburbs) Sanjeev Kumar, and all other concerned Joint Municipal Commissioners, were present on this occasion.

In his remarks during the meeting, Municipal Commissioner Chahal said that the entire health system should be ready to handle an increase in the number of Covid cases, as predicted by the Government of India’s Health Department. Some guidelines will be provided as a precaution, while they are not required. The number of patients exposed to the Covid infection is anticipated to rise in the upcoming month of May, per medical forecast. He has therefore provided a number of directions in addition to saying that hospital beds must be available at both BMC and private institutions.

The following are the basic directions provided by the Municipal Commissioner:

1. Purchase of Medicines etc. – The Central Purchase Department should review the availability of gloves, masks, PPE kits, as well as the stock of medicines and other medical equipment required by all the hospitals of BMC and commence the purchasing process, if required. It should be ensured that there will be no shortage of any medical requirement.

2. Covid Tests – Early detection of Covid patients can prevent the spread of infection. Owing to this, the number of Covid tests should be increased to result in easy treatment. While increasing the number of tests, Additional Commissioner Dr. Sanjiv Kumar should hold a meeting of private medical laboratory operators as soon as possible.

3. Medical Oxygen – As the number of Covid patients increases, the need for intensive care may also increase. Considering this, it is important for all the hospitals to examine and audit their medical oxygen plants to ensure that they are functioning well and there is a balance between the demand and supply of oxygen, at any given point of time.

Also Read | Mumbai’s Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal felicitated with ‘Spirit of Mumbai’

4. Ward War Rooms – All Ward War Rooms, which have played a vital role in patient management during previous waves of Covid, should be urgently reviewed to ensure that they are functional with all the necessary manpower and machinery to deal with any situation. The responsibility of the Ward War Room will be important in providing an immediate response to citizens during the Covid spike.

5. It is important to note that Covid awareness is crucial in reducing the number of Covid patients. Owing to this, public awareness should be emphasized.

6. With the increasing number of Covid patients, senior citizens above 60 years of age are more at risk. Therefore, it is recommended that all senior citizens above 60 years of age in the BMC area, as well as citizens with co-morbidities, should consistently use masks for safety. Although wearing a mask is not mandatory, it is important to take precautions. Masks should be used in public and crowded places. An advisory in this regard will be issued by the health department at the earliest.

7. Considering public contact, all employees of the BMC should also use masks, even if it’s not mandatory. Visitors to municipal offices should also be politely requested to wear masks.

8. Giving utmost priority to safety, masks are being made mandatory for all employees, patients, and visitors in all BMC hospitals. A notice in this regard will be issued by the health department immediately.

9. Municipal hospitals and private hospitals in Mumbai should conduct mock drills as part of Covid preparedness, in accordance with Government of India’s guidelines.

10. All private hospitals in Mumbai should equip their entire system for the treatment of Covid patients, considering the increasing number of patients, and ensure that there is no shortage.

11. Patients undergoing surgery should be tested for Covid in all hospitals. If such a patient is found to be infected with Covid and the surgery is not an emergency, then the surgery should be postponed.

12. Keeping in view the Covid-infected as well as asymptomatic patients, Health Department should re-issue guidelines regarding home isolation of Covid-19 patients.

13. It should be ensured that medicines and related medical equipment are available at Hindu Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Aapla Dawakhanas (HBT Clinics). The Assistant Commissioners of the concerned ward should also review stock of medicines and availability of manpower in HBT Clinics.

14. Pre-monsoon works like desilting, road repairs, etc., should be completed before the onset of the monsoon. For this, all the concerned Joint Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Assistant Commissioners, Heads of Departments should review the work and ensure its timely implementation.

15. Coordination officers should be appointed at the ward office level for the organization of Matrashakti Mahila Melava through the Department of Women and Child Welfare.

16. The Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) and Deputy Commissioner (Infrastructure) should regularly review pre-monsoon works, including the concretization of roads.

17. The Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) should review the appointment of Shwachhtadoots and the construction of new public toilets.

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