Join fight against COVID-19: PM to AYUSH professionals
   Date :29-Mar-2020

Modi AYUSH professionals_
 
NEW DELHI :
 
Modi suggests AYUSH medicine producers to utilise their resources to produce essential items like sanitisers which are in high demand 
 
PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday interacted with Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) professionals from around the country through video conferencing on the coronavirus pandemic situation. Talking to the AYUSH sector practitioners, the Prime Minister said that it has a long tradition of keeping the nation healthy and its importance has increased manifold in the ongoing efforts to tackle COVID-19.
 
He also observed that the network of AYUSH practitioners is spread throughout the length and breadth of the country and “it is imperative for them to utilise this network, while working according to WHO guidelines, to spread the message of good practises which need to be adopted in the efforts to control the spread of the virus.” Modi also praised the AYUSH Ministry in promoting Yoga at Home to de-stress the mind and strengthen the body during this difficult phase.
 
The Union Minister for AYUSH, Cabinet Secretary and Secretary, Ministry of AYUSH, also participated in the interaction held through video-conferencing. The Prime Minister underlined the importance of countering and fact-checking unsubstantiated claims of AYUSH having a cure for the disease, adding that AYUSH scientists, ICMR, CSIR and other research organisations must come together for evidence-based research. He said that the country must be ready to use the entire healthcare workforce to meet the challenge, and if the need so arises, help from private doctors connected with AYUSH may be sought by the Government.
 
Modi also suggested that AYUSH medicine producers could utilise their resources towards producing essential items like sanitisers which are in high demand and exhorted them to utilise the platform of telemedicine to reach out to the public and generate constant awareness to fight the pandemic. He also highlighted the importance of enforcing social distancing with full vigour to counter the spread of the pandemic. The AYUSH practitioners also lauded the Prime Minister for leading the country’s fight against COVID-19 and talked about the impact of these traditional practices towards boosting immunity. In a bid to spread awareness about the disease, the Prime Minister had on Friday interacted in a similar way with the Radio Jockeys through video conference and appreciated the role played by them in spreading awareness about the disease.
 
Modi calls up Pune nurse, thanks her for efforts to tackle COVID-19
 
PUNE,
 
Mar 28 (PTI)
 
PRIME Minister Narendra Modi called up a nurse from the civic-run Naidu Hospital, which has been treating COVID-19 patients, and applauded the work done by the hospital staff to fight the pandemic, a civic official said on Saturday. Nurse Chhaya Jagtap received a call from the Prime Minister’s Office on Friday evening, the health official from the Pune Municipal Corporation said. An audio recording of their conversation went viral on social media. Starting the conversation in Marathi, Modi enquired about her wellbeing and asked Jagtap how was she allaying her family’s fears for her safety, while serving COVID-19 patients with devotion.
 
“Yes, I am concerned about my family, but one has to work. We have to serve patients in this situation. I am managing,” she said. The Prime Minister went on to ask her if patients who are admitted in the hospital got scared. “We try and speak to them. We tell them not to get scared and assure them that nothing is going to happen to them and that their reports will come out negative, she said. The staff tries to boost the morale of positive patients too, she is heard saying in the audio clip. Jagtap informed Modi that seven COVID-19 have been discharged from the hospital after being cured. When Modi asked her if she had a message for lakhs of medical staff working tirelessly in various hospitals, Jagtap said, “There is no need to be scared. We have to drive this disease out and we have to make our country win. This should be the motto of hospitals and staff.”
 
The Prime Minister congratulated Jagtap for her devotion and service. “Like you, there are lakhs of nurses, paramedical staff, doctors, who like true ‘tapaswis’, are serving patients in various hospitals in the country right now. I would like to congratulate you. I am happy to have heard your experiences,” Modi said. Expressing her gratitude, Jagatp said, “I am just doing my duty but you are serving the nation round the clock. We should be grateful to you.” The country is fortunate to have a Prime Minister like him, she is heard saying in the audio clip.