WHO Praises Odisha Govt For Effective Fight Against COVID-19

Bhubaneswar:  Lauding the Odisha government’s effective governance and community-based strategies in the fight against COVID-19, the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday highlighted the state’s early response, dedicated COVID-19 hospitals and decentralised management through gram panchayats to fight against the pandemic.

The state was the first in the country to initiate strict measures. The Chief Minister ordered an immediate closure of many public places on March 13, even though the state had not reported a single case of COVID-19.

When the first case was reported on March 15, the state control rooms had been made operational; and capacity building of the district level health officials on preparedness and response activities and public awareness campaigns on handwashing and respiratory etiquettes were already initiated, WHO said.

In a related development, Health Minister Naba Das on Wednesday dismissed all the allegations on COVID-19 mismanagement levelled by the Opposition parties against the government.

Making a statement during the Monsoon Session of the State Legislative Assembly after an adjournment motion was moved in connection over the matter, Das defended his government’s efforts in tackling the pandemic.

The minister argued that Odisha has been doing a lot better in terms of COVID management than other states of India. To reinforce his point, he pitted that while the national mortality rate in the viral disease is at 1.6%, Odisha’s rate is as low as 0.38%”, said Das.