GUWAHATI, Sept 22 - The State government is planning to rope in faith leaders and religious institutions to add teeth to its fight against COVID-19 even as a massive awareness cum reach-out exercise �Jono Jagaron� is all set to be launched tomorrow with special focus on vulnerable sections of the population like elderly people, persons with comorbidity issues and children less than 10 years of age. Meanwhile, the State is also planning to carry out more than two lakh tests in three days from September 28.
The idea behind the awareness drive is to reach out to the population which has hitherto remained uncovered, with special thrust on ramping up voluntary �testing� and adherence to protocol. ASHA workers, apart from distributing leaflets and making the general public aware of the safety precautions, will also be part of rallies to be organised keeping in mind COVID-19 protocol. The campaign that will cover the entire State, will start on September 23 and the district-level launch of the awareness drive will be done by the respective deputy commissioners tomorrow.
Anurag Goel, Commissioner & Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, Government of Assam while addressing the district officers at a meeting through �Zoom�, requested everyone to work as a team and to innovate district-specific ways on how to reach out to the last household of the community.
Samir Sinha, Principal Secretary (Health ) said the government would extend all possible assistance to the people who come forward to get themselves tested at the COVID screening centres and ensure best possible treatment at district hospitals and medical colleges.
�It is expected that the planned mass awareness campaign will result in a sharp increase in voluntary testing, followed by adhering to COVID-appropriate behaviour at home, workplace, market place and at different social institutions. During testing, a person who is found positive will be traced by another testing of 10 persons (members of the family and very close persons of the family) and another 10 persons from his/her workplace or as identified by him/her. Thus, total 20 persons will be traced and tested and treated, as per need,� he said.
An official of the health department informed that a 360-degree approach of communication will be used to ensure that each household is reached with the message �how to deal with COVID-19 and what are the COVID-appropriate behaviour, what is the home isolation protocol, etc., that should be practised by the citizens so as to beat the COVID-19 pandemic.
