Health department moots state wide health education programme on Covid-19 – Times of India

UDUPI/BENGALURU: With Karnataka reporting Covid19 positive cases upwards of 10000 per day in recent past, the department of health and family welfare will embark on a state-wide health education programme. The campaign aimed at reaching the grassroots level will also use a bouquet of technology at the disposal of the government – social media included, noted Jawaid Akhtar, additional chief secretary to the department on Friday.

Interacting with deputy commissioners, chief executive officers of zilla panchayats and P S Harsha, commissioner, department of information and public relations via video-conference, Akthar said the above programme will be run extensively during October and November. The sharp spiral of Covid19 cases can be checked only with active participation of people, the most important stakeholders and educating them on its need is a must, he said.

Simple practice of wearing a mask in the correct manner, maintaining social distancing, not touching objects needlessly, washing hands frequently and ensuring personal hygiene are some best practices that need to be reinforced among people, Akhtar said. The programme will use both digital and outdoor advertising modes to drive home the message, Akhtar said, adding even media too will be used in this health awareness endeavour.

Harsha said the above information on above best practices will be disseminated among the masses through local cable television networks. This will ensure the spread of the message to the locals in their language, Harsha said. The department of information and public relation will also effectively tap into social media to send across this message, he said, resonating on the multi-media mode of information dissemination that Akhtar stressed up on.

Messages on Covid19 control given by the chief minister and other senior officials will be given wide publicity. Billboards that the department maintains too will contain messages on Covid19, Harsha noted. The department will also play a pro-active role in countering fake news that is being circulated on the pandemic. The campaign will include testimonies from patients who have recovered from Covid19 and opinion of expert doctors, he said.