For better coordination and monitoring in combating the swine flu pandemic in the country, the Union Health Ministry has decided to send central health teams comprising of senior officials from the central government to all the state capitals. Union minister for health and family welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad talked to all the chief ministers of states with regard to preparedness to tackle H1N1 situation in the states.

Appreciating the efforts being made by the state governments, Azad emphasized the need to step up the preparedness. In a major step towards capacity building in the states, Azad has announced that central teams comprising of senior officials from the Central Government shall be visiting all state capitals. The Union health minister has requested the chief ministers to chair the first meeting of these teams so that on-the-spot decisions are taken for swift implementation.

The central teams will discuss with state governments new guidelines issued by the ministry of health and family welfare with regard to capacity building issues such as identification of labs for testing and hospitals in public and private sectors for screening, diagnosis and treatment of H1N1 cases. It has been planned to involve central, state, local governmental establishments, medical colleges / institutes and private set-ups in this integrated strategy.

The teams will also discuss the issues of training of the doctors and paramedical personnel at various levels. These trainings are proposed to be imparted utilizing current expertise and infrastructure of MOHFW, NDMA and State Governments. Awareness campaign will also be emphasized by the teams. The purpose of this exercise is to accelerate efforts to create a dedicated functional apparatus within the current government and private infrastructure to deal with the emerging pandemic of H1N1 in the country. This strategy has been developed to augment capacity at state, zonal, district and peripheral levels (CHC, PHC, etc.)

Azad briefed the teams before they are dispatched to the state capitals. The health minister emphasized the need to convey the need for preparedness and importance of integrated approach towards the problem. He instructed the teams to complete their visits before August 15.