Kodagu district health department managed to surpass its target of vaccinating degree students even as it faced an acute shortage of vaccines due to the limited supply of doses from the state.
Representational Image (File Photo | PTI)
Madikeri :
Despite the acute shortage of COVID-19 vaccines, Kodagu district has achieved 137% target of vaccinating 18+ college students on a priority basis.
The state department of Colleges and Technical Education had earlier directed the district health department to inoculate 11,483 degree students, teaching and non-teaching staff on a priority basis by July 27.
Special drives to inoculate degree college students were successfully hosted across healthcare centres and colleges, even as the district crossed the set target assigned by the department of education.
“Many native students are studying in colleges outside the district. Hence, we have crossed the set target and vaccinated over 14,000 students,” confirmed an official.
Special vaccination drives were hosted in nearly 33 degree colleges apart from the designated PHCs where vaccine doses were reserved for students.
“We collected reports from the colleges and planned the drive accordingly,” added the official.
Amidst the short supply of vaccines, the district has managed to inoculate students successfully while also being in the news for achieving negative wastage of the vaccine doses.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Prajna GR, Express News Service / July 25th, 2021
A new engineering course in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI & ML), an allied branch of Computer Science and Engineering, is being introduced at Coorg Institute of Technology (CIT), Ponnampet, South Kodagu, from the academic year 2021-22.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an emerging technology that enables creating intelligent systems that can simulate human intelligence.
AI and ML opens the door to highly skilled engineers to propel humans to the 5th Industrial Revolution, said C.P. Belliappa, President, CIT and called upon the student fraternity to take advantage of the new course that is set to begin in CIT in the academic year 2021-22.
Artificial Intelligence has various applications in today’s society. AI can solve complex problems efficiently in multiple disciplines, such as robotics, space exploration, healthcare, entertainment, finance, edu-cation, social media, driverless automobiles, precision agri-culture, drone deliveries etc. Drones and robots are another example of this technology being increasingly used in modern warfare.
Machine Learning (ML) is a subfield of artificial intelligence, which enables machines or computer-controlled systems to learn and improve automatically through experience and by using data.
Some examples of ML are online recommender systems, Google search algorithms, Facebook/Twitter auto-friend tagging suggestions, accurate predictions based on big data, medical diagnosis, detecting credit card frauds and Alexa, the voice controlled virtual assistant that uses AI technology.
These trends in technologies have been impacting humanity like never before and offer highly challenging and rewarding opportunities.
CIT has established a Robotic Laboratory where students and faculty from all the disciplines come together to develop innovative ideas and products.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> July 20th, 2021
The online platform may be the only way to reach students during lockdown, but the digital medium comes with its own challenges. Students living in remote areas in Kodagu are facing trouble due to slow internet and connectivity issues. Lessons cannot be downloaded and they cannot attend online classes as videos and audios do not play.
Kodagu is one of the high-altitude districts in Karnataka and most of the areas have green cover and undulating terrain. However, this very feature poses a great challenge to the students in attending online classes due to poor internet connectivity.
Students are commonly seen sitting on the roadside on top of bridges and on the rocks where they attend online classes. Some of them climb trees risking their lives and limbs. While the internet may not be available inside some houses, faint signals are somewhat available at a distance. So parents have the task of taking the children to the area where connectivity is available and bringing them back home after classes.
Rain trouble too
Now it is raining across the district and students can’t even sit in the open outside. They sit inside jeeps and other vehicles to protect themselves from rain. There is hardly any mobile network in remote villages in Virajpet Taluk like Kedamullur, Birunani, Badagarakeri, Hysodlur, Nittoor, Karmad, Kunda and also Hathur.
To attend the online classes, these students have no option but to find a spot where they get proper connectivity. And there are very few places where they get an internet connection on the phone. Added to the connectivity issues, many areas are in the dark due to frequent tree falls. Villages like Kedamullur, Badaga, Thermemotte, Baarikaadu, Kottooli, Thomara and Koorthikaadu do not get power restored for weeks together in case wires snap.
“Due to the lack of a mobile network in my village, I have to walk into the forests where I can get faint signals. Our village is one of the places where basic communication facilities are missing and villagers have to walk towards the forests at the time where they get signal on their phones. Sometimes it rains when we are outside and we are not able to study,” said M.C. Nireeksha, a 10th Standard student at Heggala Ramanagara School.
Students are the ones who are suffering the most as they have to travel 3-4 km at times during the lockdown to attend online classes, she added. At remote villages where there is undulating terrain, mobile network is not balanced across the village and they get signal only in the upper reaches. A majority of students in the Kedamullur region have been studying in the schools and colleges in Virajpeṭ and 70 percent are the children of labourers.
“My house is in the lower part of Kedamullur village while good signal can be reached only in the upper reaches of the village, so my children are forced to trek till a particular point to study. This is a wooded area and there is a threat of wild animals. Along with my daughter I too walk 4 km to get connectivity and we only return in the evening,” said Vishwanath, a parent.
Authorities nonchalant
While this is the predicament faced by the students, those in positions of power sit tight saying that they have written many letters to higher-ups and there is no response. “BSNL provides connectivity to many areas in Kodagu and the offices of engineers, technicians and other staff are empty as there are hardly any employees. I have even written many letters to higher-ups for a mobile tower but there is no response,” said Kedamullur Gram Panchayat President N. Sheela.
“There is a 2G BSNL tower in Virajpet-Kedamullur and it is a genuine problem. Letters have been written a month back to upgrade the tower to 4G network. The problem will be solved if a new tower is installed,” said BSNL Virajpet Sub-Division Engineer Narayana. The officer was, however, silent on when the new tower will be installed or the existing tower would be upgraded to 4G.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / July 14th, 2021
C.S. Satheesha keeps children from Ist to 5th standard engaged with a slew of exercises in English, Kannada and mathematics, going beyond the syllabus.
Facilitates learning via online mode in remote village in Kodagu district
A school teacher in Mullur village in Kodagu district has hit upon a tree-top solution to digitally connect with his students and ensure continuity of their education during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He has fabricated a make-shift room atop a mango tree using locally available materials, including bamboo and grass, besides waste materials.
Constructed at a height of 20 feet from the ground, this has helped overcome the problem of weak reception and signal of service providers in this remote village, located about 20 km from Somwarpet, which is the nearest town.
The tree-top classroom built by C.S. Satheesha, a school teacher, in Mullur village in Kodagu district.
C.S. Satheesha is a teacher at the Government Lower Primary School in Mullur. He handles classes for students from Ist to 5th standard. But the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent lockdown resulted in disruption of education of children. The impact is more in rural areas, among tribals and first-generation learners as they lack facilities or parental backup, which their urban counterparts have, to ensure continuity in learning.
Hence, Satheesha thought of keeping them engaged during the lockdown with a slew of exercises in English, Kannada and mathematics, going beyond the syllabus.
But connectivity issues forced Satheesha to do some out-of-the-box thinking. He decided to work from a tree top. It took him two months to build a classroom atop a tree.
A conventional RCC roof may have made things easier but Satheesha’s house is tiled and sloped – a building practice that is common in the coastal belt where rains are heavy – and hence he thought of this ingenious solution.
Atop the tree, the teacher not only feels safe, but a double layer of tarpaulin ensures that the make-shift office, where he imparts online classes, remains water-proof. He invested in a mobile stand and also procured a focus light, which ensures better visibility to children at the other end.
“In case of students who do not have a smartphone, I personally distribute exercise sheets during my rounds in the village as part of my COVID-19 duty with an instruction that the answer sheets would be collected by evening,” said Mr. Satheesha.
The online classes also focus on the immediate surroundings of the children. They are asked to identify a bulb, a mirror, a furniture or anything around them and describe their function in full sentences in English. Not only has this endeavour ensured continuity in learning, but children are learning how to make short videos and upload them, using the internet, for evaluation.
The day starts with a ‘WhatsApp Challenge’ comprising a set of questions tailor-made for each student, and sent out by the teacher. By evening, the challenge is accepted!
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by R Krishna Kumar /Mysuru – January 28th, 2021
Covid warriors collect swab samples from people in a rural area in Kodagu.
Hundreds of Covid warriors in Kodagu district, who have been toiling day and night, serving Covid-19 patients, are still awaiting their Covid-19 risk allowances from the government.
Except for Asha workers, the doctors, laboratory technicians, group D staff, staff nurses and nurses working on a contractual basis are awaiting their remuneration.
The state government had announced that it will provide a risk allowance for six months.
The additional secretary to the department of health and family welfare had issued an order towards the disbursal of the allowance, by the end of May.
It was ordered to provide a risk allowance of Rs 10,000 for a period of six months, for the group D staff who work while wearing PPE kits, at the Covid Health Centres, Designated Covid Hospital and the Covid Care Centres.
Similarly, an allowance of Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 was to be paid for doctors, nurses and lab technicians working on a contractual basis, and an allowance of Rs 3,000 for the group D staff working without wearing PPE kits, outside the hospitals.
A nurse from Madikeri said that the government has recognised their work and has assured them that it will provide the allowance.
However, it should reach us when we need it, she added.
Covid warriors said that they have been collecting swab samples from people living in remote areas and hilly regions.
Also, the Covid warriors have provided medication to people who were in home isolation.
They have worked in hospitals by wearing the PPE kit during the entire day.
The Covid warriors urged the government to hike their salaries.
District health officer Dr Mohan said that the amount towards the risk allowance has been released and will be paid to the Covid warriors within the next four days.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by Adithya KA, DHNS, Madikeri / June 26th, 2021
A team of medical professionals has come forward to assess the concerns around the impending third wave.
Madikeri :
The Kodagu district administration is prepping up for the predicted third wave of coronavirus even as the Covid positivity rate has gradually decreased below five percent. Keeping this in mind, the Paediatric wing of the district Covid hospital is being enhanced with suitable medical equipment and requests in this regard have been forwarded to the state government.
Somal also revealed that a team of medical professionals has come forward to assess the concerns around the impending third wave.
Dr Cariappa, Dean of Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences confirmed that the paediatric ventilator facility is being increased to 40 from current seven at the district hospital.
A new oxygen generator unit will soon be installed at the KIMS campus. District superintendent of KIMS confirmed that the nursing staff will be trained to handle the paediatric cases.
According to the official data, nine paediatric positive cases have been reported in Kodagu till date.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Prajna GR, Express News Service / June 17th, 2021
Once completed, free flow of oxygen supply is likely to be enabled to nearly 100 beds to treat COVID patients.
Virajpet Government Hospital
Madikeri :
Kodagu has become the first district in Karnataka to be sanctioned an oxygen converter plant. The plant is currently being installed at Virajpet Government Hospital. An oxygen converter generates oxygen from natural air.
The 1-tonne capacity oxygen converter plant is expected to be ready in the next 15 days. Once completed, there will be uninterrupted oxygen supply to nearly 100 beds to treat Covid patients. While the Madikeri Covid-19 Hospital was the only centre in the district that treated severe and moderate Covid patients, the administration opened dedicated Covid care centres (CCCs) in Virajpet and Somwarpet taluks.
However, due to shortage of availability of jumbo oxygen cylinders, the 50-bed capacity CCC in Virajpet Hospital remained shut. “The plant is being set up at a cost of Rs 1 crore. This is the first of its kind in the state and once installed, we do not have to worry about oxygen shortage,” said Dr Yatiraj, Virajpet taluk Health Officer. “We had placed a proposal for jumbo cylinders.
However, with the oxygen converter plant, we will not require any such cylinders,” Dr Yatiraj further said.
Meanwhile, the current 50 beds with oxygen units are now being expanded to 98 beds which will be connected to the oxygen converter plant. “Currently, no Covid-19 patient is being treated at the centre due to lack of oxygen cylinders. However, once the plant is ready, there will be no hurdle in treating patients,” he added.
US Surgeon Gen’s foundation donates supplies
Madikeri:
The Scope Foundation, headed by United States Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy, has donated medical supplies worth Rs 70 lakh to Kodagu. The supplies were handed over to Deputy Commissioner Charulatha Somal by senior advocate HS Chandramouli on Sunday.
Many advanced medical supplies, including 70 oxygen converters, 70 medical transformers, 5,000 face shields, Rs 1.30 lakh worth N95 masks, 50 oxygen tubes and 25 oximeters, were donated by Scope Foundation. Dr Vivek is a native of Mandya district.
The support from the foundation to Kodagu was made possible after Chandramauli, a native of the district, contacted Dr Vivek’s father Lakshmi Narasimha Murthy. The foundation has also donated similar supplies across Karnataka, including Mandya.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service / June 06th, 2021
Kodagu, the second smallest district after Bengaluru Urban in the State, has reported 3,000 plus Covid positive cases among children in the second wave.
Madikeri:
Kodagu, the second smallest district after Bengaluru Urban in the State, has reported 3,000 plus Covid positive cases among children in the second wave. The district has an average positivity rate of 12.3 percent. Somwarpet taluk has a positivity rate of 14 percent followed by Madikeri (12 per cent) and Virajpet (11 percent). Out of nearly six lakh population, the district reported 21,976 positive cases as on Saturday. Among this the number children infected with corona is 3,611.
Speaking to The Hans India, District Health Officer (DHO) Mohan Kumar told that in the first wave, last year, 701 children were infected, now the infection among children in the second wave has crossed 2,910 so far. As many as 248 children contracted coronavirus between May 28 and June 4.
Mohan Kumar said parents are sole responsible for infections among children. They go out and come back home with viruses. “They don’t wash hand and face before touching their children. This is how they are spreading the infection.”
Madikeri MLA M P Appachu Ranjan told The Hans India that he would instruct officers to identify the villages where more number of children have been infected and warn parents not to send children outside.
Deputy Commissioner Charulatha Somal on Friday visited the villages where positivity rate is more. She instructed officials to take all steps to reduce positivity rate.
IANS
source: http://www.thehansindia.com / The Hans India / Home> News> State> Karnataka / by Coovercolly Indresh / Hans News Service / June 06th, 2021
In her letter to the Health Minister, Dr Kavery has stated that Ivermectin, particularly in the early stages of the disease, is highly effective and very safe as it does not have any side effects.
Representational image (Photo | PTI)
Madikeri :
A retired surgeon from Kodagu has written to the Union Health Minister suggesting the drug Ivermectin as a safe and economical medicine to treat COVID patients.
Dr Kavery Nambisan is a retired surgeon who completed her surgical training in England and FRCS in London. She is currently running a private clinic in the rural part of Ponnampet in Kodagu and has now written to the Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan to endorse Ivermectin as an early treatment for COVID. She explained that Ivermectin was largely used in India a few years ago as a deworming tablet and has proven effective to treat COVID now.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it must be noted, has been categorical in disapproving the drug’s use, stating that they have “not approved ivermectin for use in treating or preventing COVID-19 in humans. Ivermectin tablets are approved at very specific doses for some parasitic worms, and there are topical (on the skin) formulations for head lice and skin conditions like rosacea. Ivermectin is not an anti-viral (a drug for treating viruses)”.
The World Health Organisation too has recommended that ivermectin must only be used for COVID-19 treatment within clinical trials.
Dr Kavery though disagrees. “A scientist in Australia conducted an in vitro study last year and published a paper on how Ivermectin is an effective drug to treat COVID-19. This was practically followed by a doctor in Bangladesh and the drug proved to be effective. An Indian origin doctor in South Africa, Dr Shankara Chetty, has treated over 4000 COVID patients successfully with Ivermectin,” she told The New Indian Express.
The doctor confirmed that the drug has been approved by ICMR and AIIMS Delhi. She added that the states of Orissa, Goa and Uttar Pradesh are largely using Ivermectin as an early treatment for COVID patients.
In her letter to the Health Minister, Dr Kavery has stated that Ivermectin, particularly in the early stages of the disease, is highly effective and very safe as it does not have any side effects. “It is safer than any antibiotic currently in use and it is cheap,” she has written.
She affirmed that more than 20 large clinical, peer-reviewed trials around the world have shown that the drug Ivermectin reduces virus multiplication effectively in 74% of patients and prevents second or inflammatory stage. “Even if an Ivermectin user gets COVID, it will be a mild attack and not serious,” she has affirmed in the letter.
She has analyzed that the vaccination drive across the country will take another eight to ten months to witness completion, during which the unprotected population will continue to get infected and transmit the disease.
“The repeated mutations will lead to a cycle of repeated vaccinations and booster and India will remain in the pandemic mode for many years. The use of Ivermectin will reduce COVID infections, transmission, virus mutations and death. It is only among the very few who reach the second stage of the disease that we need to do blood tests and give a short course of low-dose steroid and anticoagulant. The percentage of patients that will need hospital admission, oxygen and critical care will be greatly reduced with the use of Ivermectin,” she has written.
She has requested the Health Minister to take a decisive step and make the use of Ivermectin mandatory in the early stages of the disease.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service / June 01st, 2021
United States surgeon general Dr Vivek Murthy has donated Covid related medical equipment to small hospitals in Mandya and Kodagu districts.
Murthy a native of Hallegere in Mandya district contributing through his Scope Foundation.
Madikeri:
United States surgeon general Dr Vivek Murthy has donated Covid related medical equipment to small hospitals in Mandya and Kodagu districts. Murthy a native of Hallegere in Mandya district contributing through his Scope Foundation.
Vivek’s father Lakshmi Narasimha Murthy told reporters on Monday that shipment of medical equipments worth Rs 1.40 crores already despatched to 12 hospitals in two districts which facing a shortage of equipments. He said taluk hospitals and two PHCs were selected for this.
He said consignment contains 70 oxygen concentrators with adapter, 25 digital oral thermometers, 1,96,000 K95 face masks, 5000 full-face shields, 5000 forehead foam, 300 surgical earlobe masks, 1200 medical face shields, 400 nitrile powder-free gloves, 50 oxygen cannula and five voltage transformers.
The foundation also plans to build a Covid ward at the cost of Rs one crore.
source: http://www.thehansindia.com / The Hans India / Home> News> States>Karnataka / by Hans News Service / June 01st, 2021
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