COVID-19 Surge: Odisha Issues Advisory For Children, Adolescents, Pregnant & Lactating Women

Bhubaneswar: In the wake of COVID-19 surge, Odisha government on Thursday issued a set of advisory for children, adolescents, pregnant & lactating women in the state.

PK Mohapatra, Additional Chief Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Deptt. in a letter to the Principal Secretary of Women and Child Development Deptt, proposed to incorporated certain points in the advisory proposed to be issued by the W&CD Deptt. to the districts for taking care of healthcare needs of children, adolescents and pregnant & lactating women in the State.

ACS Mohapatra said that all advisories previously issued by the Health Department will continue to remain in force. “Special advisories for management of SAM Cases during the pandemic had been issued to all districts and the same has been reiterated to all NRCS with required modifications, the ACS added in the letter.

Following are the observations proposed by the Health Department to be incorporated in the proposed advisory of W&CD Deptt.

• All children above 2 yrs may be advised to wear masks as per the recommendation of Indian Academy of Pediatrics mandatorily before stepping out of their houses and parents should ensure the same.
• The newer symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach pain. etc. in addition to the earlier noted symptoms of cold, cough, fever, loss of smell/ taste. poor feeding In infants, and any other medically indicated conditions in children. pregnant & lactating women and adolescents may be considered for suspecting COVID-19 case.
• Persons belonging to any age group (Including children) having any symptoms of COVID-19 must go for testing, Isolation, and medical advice as per WHO guidelines. Al
• Handwashing with soap and water must be advocated for at least 40 sacs, instead of 20 secs. And unnecessary touching of face, nose, and eyes must be discouraged at all levels in all age groups.
• Use of Aarogya Setu App, wherever possible may be encouraged.
• Vaccination against COVID-19 must be ensured in all beneficiaries above 18 years of age.

” All adaptations from the guidelines of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare on protocol for management of COVID-19 in the Paediatric age group may be considered for reiteration in the district advisories,” the letter further mentioned.