PM warns of new fungus challenge
Lauds docs and other frontline health workers, slams the Oppn for criticising Yoga, says it helped in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday warned against the “new challenge of black fungus” and said the country must be prepared to fight the rare and potentially fatal condition that is increasingly being seen in recovering Covid-19 patients. The PM became emotional as he spoke about those who have succumbed to Covid-19 even as he called for vaccinations to be a mass movement in the long battle against the viral disease.
“In our ongoing fight against Covid-19, a new challenge of black fungus has surfaced. We must focus on taking precaution and preparation to deal with it,” said the PM during a virtual meeting with health workers from his parliamentary constituency, Varanasi.
The infection, which some doctors have blamed on the high use of steroids to combat Covid-19, kills more than 50 percent of sufferers within days. In some cases, eyes and upper jaws are removed by surgeons to save lives.
: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged bringing medical services closer to Covid-19 patients, coming up with a new mantra –Jahan bimaar, wahin upchaar –at a video conference with doctors, nurses and paramedical staff working in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi, who are at the frontline of the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. He also warned against “new challenge of Black Fungus”, highlighting the need for precaution and preparation to deal with it.
Lauding the medics, PM Modi said it is commendable how all nurses, doctors, ambulance drivers and ward boys came together against the Covid-19.
“Varanasi has set a great example by the way it has equipped Pt Rajan Mishra Covid hospital and increased the number of oxygen beds and ICU beds in the city, in such a short span of time,” PM Modi said in the virtual interaction.
“Though the attack of the pandemic has been checked to an extent with the joint efforts of all, it is not the time to feel satisfied,” he told healthcare professionals and other frontline workers in his Varanasi constituency.
“We have to fight a long battle,” he added. He said health services need to pay attention to the rural areas of Varanasi and Purvanchal and pitched his new ‘mantra’ of “treatment at the doorstep”.
“We shouldn’t forget – Jahan bimaar, wahin upchaar” (treatment where the patient is located).” “If the treatment is taken to the sick, it will bring down the pressure on the health system,” Modi said. He talked about telemedicine and involving young and retired medical professionals in tackling the pandemic.
He lauded the efforts of doctors, nurses, technicians, ward boys and ambulance drivers. “But this pandemic is so big that despite all the efforts we have not been able to save the lives of our family members,” he added.
“This virus has snatched so many of our near ones,” Modi said, choking with emotion.
There was a long pause, before the prime minister continued, “I pay my respects to all these people and offer condolences to their near and dear ones,” he said.
“In our ongoing fight against Covid-19, a new challenge of black fungus has surfaced. We must focus on taking precaution and preparation to deal with it,” he added.Modi called for special efforts to save children from coronavirus. He also flagged mucormycosis or black fungus as a “new challenge”.
He said the fight was on many
fronts in the second wave of the pandemic. The infection rate was high, the patients had to be hospitalised for longer and there was “extreme pressure” on the health system.
Stressing the importance of vaccination, he said frontline workers managed to serve without worry because of it. This “suraksha kavach” (shield) should reach everyone, he added.
Just as the fight against coronavirus has been a joint effort, the vaccination should also be a collective responsibility and everyone should take the vaccine
when their turn comes, he said.
He said the work done in the health sector over the past seven years helped but under such extraordinary circumstances, the situation was brought under control because of the health workers who worked round the clock.
Slamming the opposition, he said yoga was criticised and a communal colour was initially given to it when the government made efforts to help it get global recognition. But today Yoga has helped in the fight against coronavirus. He said the battle is against an “unseen” and “chang
ing” enemy.
Modi said Varanasi benefited from the strategy of having micro-containment zones. He also mentioned “Kashi Kavach” – a telemedicine initiative involving doctors, laboratories and private companies.
The PM said the arrangements made to deal with the second wave should be maintained even when the cases come down. He expressed satisfaction that people’s representatives remained connected to the drive against the pandemic despite facing “naraazgi”, an indirect reference to hostile comments.