Odisha To Make Repository Of Knowledge On Covid-19 Pandemic

Bhubaneswar: As the State Government so far successfully handled the Covid-19 earning praise from across the globe, the chief secretary Asit Tripathy today directed all the department to make a repository of knowledge on the pandemic for future reference.

He gave this direction while reviewing the processes and interventions followed by different departments dealing with the crisis in a high level meeting held in Lokseba Bhawan conference hall Tuesday, wherein secretary information & public relations Sanjay Kumar Singh outlined the issues for discussion.

Tripathy added, “Covid-19 is unprecedented in recent human memory, and, it is a learning crisis. Documentation about the response strategies and interventions being adopted will strengthen nation’s public health system for future”. The departments dealing with the crisis were advised to prepare a thematic summary of the approaches and operations undertaken including the unique challenges faced, corrective measures taken, lessons learnt and good practices that evolved.”

The meeting deliberated on an indicative template for documentation as per the suggestive guidelines of National Disaster Management Authority and Government of India. It would capture emergence of ideas and actions as the pandemic appeared in India and Odisha, the analytical documents, Government orders, advisories, awareness creation, diffusion of correct information, management of public fear and apprehension, community involvement, enforcement, challenges success & weaknesses etc. It was decided to prepare the document in two forms viz. one compendium of orders & circulars, and, one audio-visual substance. Chief secretary advised to make the document a ‘real time reflective of the moods and perceptions in course of the response and management’.

Discussions in the meeting showed that State has passed through four broad phases of response right from last week of January 2020, and, is currently countering the crisis with people’s participation in the fifth phase. Tripathy directed the departments to prepare the base documents by 30th June and keep on updating that with the evolving scenario.

Additional chief secretary health & family welfare Pradeepta Kumar Mohapatra, additional chief secretary and SRC Pradeep Kumar Jena, principal secretary Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Deo Ranjan Kumar Singh, principal secretary home Sanjiv Chopra, principal secretary women & child development Anu Garg, special secretary health & family welfare Shalini Pandit, chief executive officer OSDA Ranjita and special secretary Archana Patnaik, director I & PR Krupasindhu Mishra participated in the discussions.