Following Union Health Ministry’s directive, the Delhi Government on Thursday reviewed the preparedness to fight Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). The Government also directed all agencies to act in unison and close coordination in case the virus enters the city. At a high-level meeting, Dr Pawan Maurity of World Health Organisation (WHO) made a presentation on the EVD before the Delhi Government.

Speaking the meeting, Delhi Chief Secretary DM Spolia said that Delhi being high transit point, a high-level of preparedness is to be maintained and all agencies should act in unison and close co-ordination to combat the Ebola disease. 

Spolia directed officials to intensify the surveillance mechanism to detect the possible cases. He reviewed the preparation being made at Dr Ram Manohar lohia Hospital and lok Nayak Hospital identified to treat EVD cases if detected.

The Chief Secretary emphasized on the need to train Health personnel on effective management of EVD cases and directed that all infrastructure requirements like isolation wards, ICU, personnel protective gears should be made available in all hospitals. He reiterated that Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) circulated by Central Government should be followed by all hospitals in Delhi.

The Chief Secretary said that more hospitals should be ready in all aspect to gear up for treatment of EVD cases, with proper staff equipment and training. He directed that the hospitals with the capacity of 500 beds to prepare for providing treatment to EVD cases. He asked the Health Department officers to keep a vigil on data of EVD cases carefully and asked them to alert the Governemnt immediately in case of any suspect. The Chief Secretary directed senior officials to procure necessary equipments. He made it clear that there should be any shortage equipment in the hospitals.