Health Minister, Banna Gupta, on Friday unveiled a Black Fungus free 24 hour free helpline number, launched by Kashyap Memorial Eye Hospital, Ranchi, to educate, counsel, assist and dispel fears on post Covid black fungal infection, or Mucormycosis, that is spreading in the State and elsewhere.
This is the first such innovative helpline launched by Kashyap Memorial Eye Hospital, Ranchi, an NABH certified eye care specialty hospital, in Jharkhand.
Gupta, on Friday, also inaugurated the largest ever Mass Online Awareness Campaign organised by Women Doctors Wing, Indian Medical Association, Jharkhand, in association with Health Department, Government of Jharkhand, in which tribal religious leaders known in Jharkhand as Pahans, Sahiyas, Anganwadi Workers, Sakhi Mandal members and State para medical staff, aggregating to more than 2 lakh, were galvanised to fight the Covid vaccine hesitancy, fear and misgivings on the side effects of Covid-19 vaccines.
Civil surgeons of all districts also joined the programme. The State has the capacity to vaccinate 2.46 lakh beneficiaries though actual numbers are less than 50 per cent capacity.
State Health Minister, Banna Gupta was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Special invitees who graced the occasion were Arun Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Dr JA Jayalal, National president, Indian Medical Association and Dr Jayesh Lele, National Secretary, Indian Medical Association.
Joining the Mass Online Awareness Campaign from USA, Dr Ravi Kashyap, senior pulmonologist and Associate Professor, University of Illinois, in a direct question and answer session with tribal Pahans and health care volunteers, dispelled the many fears and falsehoods, regarding the effects of Covid vaccines on reproductive health, pregnancy and menstrual health.
He stressed that vaccines were safe for all including lactating mothers and pregnant women. He also advised parents and elders on the symptoms of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in children, a rare but serious complication related to Covid 19, so that parents could take better care of their wards.
Dr Puja Kashyap, Associate Professor, University of Texas, USA, spoke on Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in children (MISC), a rare but serious complication related to Covid-19, that manifest in inflammation of the heart, lungs, abdomen, kidneys and brain.
Common symptoms include fever, nausea, rash, abdominal pain, joint pain, etc. She suggested that adult ICUs be converted into paediatric ICUs equipped with ultrasound, head CT scan, child ventilators, setting up of 24 hour fully staffed diagnostic laboratories, training of adult heart specialists on paediatric heart complications etc to save the future generations.
Dr Bibhuti Kashyap, MD, FRCS (Glasgow), MRCS (Edinburg) and deputy director, Kashyap Memorial Eye Hospital , Ranchi, spoke on the symptoms of black fungus infection and dispelled the many myths surrounding spread of the disease.
Black Fungus or Mucormycosis, is a rare disease. It is known to affect people who have underlying health problems like uncontrolled diabetes, people suffering from HIV, cancer or are taking medicines that lower the body's ability to fight germs and sickness.
To combat the disease, it is important to understand the signs and symptoms of black fungus infection because it can turn dangerous if left untreated. Mucor primarily affects the nose and sinus. Consult your doctor or go to an ENT specialist at the earliest and refrain from self-medication, Dr Bibbhuti Kashyap stressed.
Dr Bharti Kashyap, chairperson, Women Doctors Wing, IMA, Jharkhand, said that out of 23 State-run Sadar Hospitals, Women Doctors Wing has helped to equip 11 Sadar Hospitals with state of the art Digital Video Colposcope and Cryo Machines for treatment of cervical pre-cancer and also trained gynaecologists and obstetricians working in government hospitals in treatment of cervical pre cancer with help of expert Oncologists of international repute from USA, Delhi and Kolkata.
“However, we have learned that most of these sophisticated Cryo machines are today lying idle for want of funds to refill nitrous oxide gas cylinders, putting the lives of hundreds of rural women diagnosed with cervical pre-cancer at risk. I urge the state government to provide the needed funds and ensure that these sophisticated cervical pre-cancer treatment machines are made functional at the earliest, to save the women of the State,” Dr Bharti pleaded.
Speaking on the occasion, the Health Minister said, “A lot of suggestions have been given by eminent doctors and specialists from the country and abroad, during the online programme. The State Government, led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, has been working overtime to beat the pandemic. Our Prime Minister had taken the lead by taking the vaccine and proving that the Covid vaccines are safe. As pointed out by Dr Ravi Kashyap, the Covid vaccines are safe for all including lactating mothers, pregnant women and with no side effects on menstrual health or reproductive health. We are also going all out to dispel the many fears and skepticism surrounding vaccines."