The first COVID-19 case was reported on Jan 30 in Kerala. Post which, Kerala has effectively controlled the virus but other states are unable to contain the spread as effectively. Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have more COVID cases than Kerala. . Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has gone on record saying “ only one new case of COVID-19 was reported in the State today, while the test results of seven coronavirus patients under treatment turned out to be negative.”
What can we learn from the Kerala healthcare system?
As per data released by the Health Ministry in Kerala, the state has the highest Covid recovery rate and lowest mortality rate in India. The mortality rate is 5.75 per cent in the world average, 3.5 per cent in India and 0.58 per cent in Kerala.
How was this achieved? Kerala has the largest number of Covid tests conducted in India. Covid Testing Kiosks (WISKs) were set up in India for the first time in Kerala, two at Ernakulam Medical College. It is also the first Indian state to apply for a Convalescent Plasma Therapy and has received ICMR approval.
It’s the only state with two Covid hospitals in every district. Kerala Epidemic Diseases Act was the first legislation in India for the control of communicable diseases. Government of Kerala was the first state in India to provide tele-medicine service during the Covid era, and it is the only state in India which provides the facility to expatriates. The oldest covid patients – one 88-year-olds and 93-year-olds have been released from a government hospital in Kerala.
Kerala is the first state in India to have developed 18 specs of standards, including contact tracing. Most of the states in India are following these standards. The first state in India to come up with ideas `Community Kitchen (1400+) in India. They quickly set up guest worker camps (5500+) , hired 300 doctors and 400 health inspectors in government hospitals within 24 hours.
Posted by Collector, Ernakulam on Friday, 17 April 2020
Break the Chain
BREAK THE CHAIN campaign was started by the Department of Health in Kerala. When the Anganwadis are closed, food was delivered to the children’s at home. Internet connectivity was improved considering the increasing use of the internet. There are 22,567 government relief camps and shelters across India ( data which the central government has given to the Supreme Court). Out of which 15,541 are from Kerala.
Check out the video above on how the Kerala model is being applauded the worldover
