Corona Diary excerpts from my Facebook wall

Hello from the National Capital Region of India, where I happen to be during India's 21-day Corona Virus lockdown.

I've been posting my comments on the topic on Facebook and Twitter on a variety of aspects of the topic, here are two of today's posts (these were intended for my Facebook friends list, but I think it would be useful to post it on this blog as well, might write a more comprehensive piece in the course of time)

From my Facebook wall earlier today:

Health in tribal and rural areas during Covid19, my first set of points:

We've started losing doctors in India.

ALL doctors treating Covid, even in rural areas, should have Hazmat suits.

There is talk of clubbing together the health needs of people in remote areas by reducing health centres, that should not happen.

There should be additional mobile health services at this point of time.

I think there should be more widespread supplies of Oxygen-supply equipment, as this is a stage BEFORE the ventilator stage, for those who do fall seriously ill. (And as a norm, all PHCs should have nebulizers meant for asthmatics, in any case).

Normal medicines that should be free of cost to treat just fever, and that should be available at all times at PHCs are often not there, these should be in stock.

There should be awareness and a strategy for the continued availability of all other life-saving medicines, including ones for patients who need protracted, long-term supplies, such as for TB treatment and cardiac conditions.

Remember, at present, (30th March, 2020), there is no proven treatment for Covid, and no vaccine either. So it is important to be able to treat all symptoms of Covid adequately for the symptoms that they are. Simultaneously, do no lose sight of the fact that people with various other diseases also need medicines.

Step up the encouragement for Indigenous Systems of Medicines at a local level, starting with Tulsi.

Do not underestimate the power of locally brewed intoxicating beverages, facilitate and legalize Mahua, toddy, sake-like rice kanji etc. Chhattisgarh is already doing so for Mahua via GCC and Trifed like I've been recommending. Make the women's self help groups regulate it's use as a medicinal product.

"Legal Proceedings

I have been advocating for courtroom proceedings to be conducted via video for quite some time.

Right now, video proceedings (and even telephonic means for some parts of the process), are a reality.

I have been reading reports posted online by colleagues, who have pointed out 'teething problems' regarding deferred attestations for documents being allowed for the time-being etc.

It is important and urgent to ensure that all required aspects of legal proceedings are met at all times, and urge my colleagues in the legal community to continue to point out lacunae, and follow up with appropriate authorities, for corrective measures.

We can navigate this bit."

And another note from yesterday:

TELEPHONIC DISCUSSION WITH ANDHRA PRADESH CONGRESS COMMITTEE PRESIDENT ON CORONA VIRUS:

Earlier today, our Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President from Andhra, Dr. Sake Sailaja Nath, phoned me, and we had a brief discussion on Corona Virus.

I expressed my view that, as a political party, we, at the INC, must focus on the scale of the matter (ie., the overall picture), and that our job is to force the government to work.

We could do this by giving out specific guidelines to our party-people on various aspects of the government's Corona response, and on how to improve the situation that has been created.

It is important to understand that as a political party, we should not replicate the work of NGOs, but network with them if required.

I told him about my recent Facebook message on Ugaadi day, that I am stuck in Haryana, and that party-people have been phoning me for guidance on the subject.

(The local body elections had been postponed, but I think the code of conduct has not been suspended).*
*Some have clarified that the SC did suspend the code of conduct.

I also pointed out that we could look at how to involve existing Women's Self Help Groups (SHGs), in the making of masks.

The PCC President has requested me to actively give my views to the press on an ongoing basis.

V. Shruti Devi