Civil society in Uttara Kannada to work for bringing down mortality rate

Karwar, May 25, 2021: Just in eight days, Uttara Kannada district has recorded 118 Covid deaths! While this has set an alarming bell for the district administration, the volunteers and social activists are planning to do their bit in creating awareness.

The number of deaths in the district was 189 till March 31, 2021. The number started increasing in the last 54 days. According to the state bulletin the total deaths in Uttara Kannada as on May 24 was 494.

Despite various challenges, Uttara Kannada district had recorded the least number of cases as well as deaths in the first wave. But things have changed now and the district is witnessed not only an increase in the number of cases but also deaths.

The number of deaths has also left the district administration worried, especially the high number of deaths in the 30-45 age group.

In a recent press conference, the Deputy Commissioner had expressed his concern as most of the deaths were because the patients come to the hospital only at the last stage.

“Many patients, especially the 30-45 age groups prefer not to go to the doctors and they feel they are healthy. They do not go for testing. But things get worse when the infection increases and they come to the hospital at the last moment. By then it will be too late and they die. We are seeing many such cases. I request people to go for testing as soon as they have any symptoms,” Deputy Commissioner Mullai Muhilan told reporters.

While the district administration is trying its best to track and test the people, activists have decided to do their bit in creating awareness.

“We will prepare a pamphlet comprising various information about Covid. We will personally visit the houses in the villages in Karwar and Ankola taluks and interact with the people and ask them to go for testing. Covid is not a stigma and there is nothing to hide. We will clarify this to the villagers by speaking in their mother tongue. This will bring some confidence and create awareness,” Red Cross Society district head and Jana Shakthi Vedike president Madhav Nayak told The Canara Post.

“We want to join hands with like-minded people and organizations and do similar work throughout the district. We aim to bring down the cases and normalcy in the district,” he added.