Andhra Pradesh should be role model in prevention of Covid-19 third wave

Vijayawada, August 6 (prajaamaravati): Addressing representatives of NGOs who participated in the Webinar organized on ‘Creating awareness on prevention of third wave Covid-19 in the State’, organized by the A.P. Raj Bhavan on Friday, Andhra Pradesh Governor Sri Biswa Bhusan Harichandan said A.P. should be a role model in the prevention of third wave of Covid-19 from happening. Governor Sri Harichandan said there are several NGOs who have done tremendous work during first and second wave of Covid-19 and they can play a major role in complete eradication of the virus and appealed to them to put their resources to optimum use and sensitise unvaccinated people to get vaccinated and create awareness on following Covid-appropriate behavior among people of the State.

The Governor said that with the lessons learnt from the first wave and second wave of Covid-19, authorities have been able to ramp up health infrastructure by mobilising ventilators, hospital beds, PPE kits etc. and as a result many lives have been saved. He said due to rapid vaccination drive organized by the State government, many lives have been protected.

The Governor further added that the problems of the first wave were not found in the second wave and the problems of the second wave may not surface in the third wave and complete vaccination of all eligible categories of people and adhering to Covid-appropriate behavior such as wearing mask, maintaining social distance and regular hand wash can help in prevention of third wave. People should take more precaution while participating social gatherings, religious gatherings, mixing with crowds etc. as the new variants of Covid-19 appear to show higher transmissibility than previous variants and early vaccination can prevent hospitalization in the next wave, said the Governor.

The five-fold strategy advocated by Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi i.e. testing, tracing, treatment, Covid-appropriate behavior and vaccination will be more effective in the fight against new variants of Covid-19 virus, said Governor Sri Harichandan.

Representatives of 15 Non-Governmental Organisations including, Dr. A. Sridhar Reddy, Chairman and Sri A.K. Parida of AP State Branch of Indian Red Cross Society, Sri Rama Rao of Rotary Club, Smt. Ganga Bhavani of Bharat Scouts & Guides, Smt. Vishala of Rural Development Trust, Representative of UNICEF, Sri Srinivas Rajamani, UNDP, Sri Kishore of All Is Well Foundation, Dr. Keerthi of Vasavya Mahila Mandali, Sri Shriram, Bhagavatula Charitable Trust, Sri Devarajan of Veer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar Trust, Smt. P.V. Sandhya of Vijay Foundation Trust, Sri Tirupati Reddy, APARD, Sri M.S. Srinivasa Rao of Angel Grameena & Pattanabhivrudhi Samkshema Samstha, Sri Nagender Rao of LEADS have participated in the Webinar and explained the work their organizations have done to help Covid patients during first and second wave of Covid-19 and the gave suggestions on strategy to adopted in prevention of the third wave.

Initiating the discussion, Dr. Mukesh Tripathi, Director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Mangalagiri, said after first and second wave of Covid-19, people have become aware of the precautions to be taken in prevention of spread of the virus. He said people should avoid social gatherings and advised on use of N95 mask as cotton masks provide less protection against the infection and masks should not be used for more than one week.

Sri Mukesh Kumar Meena, Secretary to Governor said in his introductory remarks said that the society is facing an unprecedented situation due to Covid-19 and people in unorganized sector and poor people have been affected the most due to the pandemic and it is necessary that necessary precautions are taken by following Covid-appropriate behaviour to prevent third wave from happening to alleviate further human suffering.

Sri A. Shyam Prasad, Joint Secretary to Governor and other officers of Raj Bhavan have attended the programme.