Chandigarh: Punjab is making every possible concerted effort to tame the coronavirus. Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has galvanized the whole administrative set up to check the spread of the coronavirus, which has claimed over 3,200 lives so far. As the need of the hour is to lead and guide the team consisting of state’s top bureaucrats from the front as a corona warrior, Punjab’s Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan has set a rare example of rising to the occasion, reports Rajeev R for BureaucratsIndia.in.  

Any time the mobile phone of a Deputy Commissioner (DC) or of a Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) starts ringing. The caller can be senior IAS officer (1987 batch) Vini Mahajan, first woman Chief Secretary of Punjab, seeking updates on corona and facilities being provided to the patients. Punjab has launched a war against the infection under the overall supervision of Mahajan. “She is doing her best. She means business,” said a senior bureaucrat, while confiding in BureaucratsIndia.in, on the condition of anonymity.

As recently as September 26, Mahajan directed all DCs to make more frequent visits to hospitals in their respective districts to review the arrangements and ensure the best possible care to Covid-19 patients. She issued these directions in a video conferencing meeting with all DCs, Commissioners of Police (CPs), SSPs, Commissioners of MC and Civil Surgeons to review the arrangements in the state hospitals.

Asking the district authorities to strictly enforce social distancing protocol to keep the spread of coronavirus under check, Mahajan underlined the need to pay special attention in the districts where the mortality rate is still very high. It is worth mentioning that the state government has already appointed COVID Patient Tracking Officers (CPTOs) to ensure better coordination and expeditious response at the district level by tracking of patients.

Since the advent of dengue has rung an alarm bell among the state administration as dengue and corona infection make the treatment much more difficult, the Health Department has been asked to launch the awareness campaign for the prevention of vector-borne disease.

Earlier on September 24, Mahajan had directed all DCs, CPs and SSPs to redouble their efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. Batting for enhancing level three facilities in the hospitals, she said that mortality rates must be reduced. She categorically asked DCs of Kapurthala, Sangrur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Ludhiana, Ferozepur, Tarn Taran and Amritsar to take special preventive measures for checking the mortality rate.

The Chief Secretary asked the officers to ensure a separate dialysis facility, in districts wherever required, for Covid-19 affected patients. She also asked the officers to encourage the private hospitals to partner with the government and ensure most optimal utilisation of healthcare facilities while ensuring best possible treatment. /BI/