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
There is an impression that actresses generally hide their age or lie about their actual date of birth. In the case of Varsha Bollama, it is the other way around. She stated her real age. Also, she tried correcting Google.
Varsha Bollama is shot to fame with ‘Middle Class Melodies’. She also appeared in two other Telugu movies.
In a recent live interactive session with her fans on Instagram, a fan mentioned that Google is showing her age as 25. To this, she replied that she is just 24. Varsha Bollamma wrote, “I’m a 1996 born. So, I am 24! But Google knows it better than my mom, I guess!”
source: http://www.telugucinema.com / Telugu Cinema / Home> News / by Telugu Cinema / June 04th, 2021
The company is eyeing the Rs 100 crore artisanal coffee market.
Tata Consumer Products Ltd (TCPL) has introduced a premium roasted and ground coffee under the Sonnets brand targeting urban and increasingly discerning coffee drinkers in India. With this launch, the company is eyeing the Rs 100 crore artisanal coffee market .
The TCPL’s move marks its maiden foray into the Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) market. It will let the company tap a growing number of buyers shopping online, especially during the pandemic when most are cooped indoors and unable to visit cafes and coffee shops.
Puneet Das, President, Packaged Beverages, India & South Asia, Tata Consumer Products Limited, said, “The user can choose the roasting level, grounding and flavors of the coffee which gets delivered to the doorstep of the customer via our delivery channels. We are leveraging both premiumization and home delivery trends through this launch.”
The coffee is produced in Tata Coffee-owned estates. The consumer can choose his preferred roast type from between a light, medium, and a dark roast option, and could also suit his brewing preference and opt for either a filter coffee or a French press grind.
Tata Consumer Products will be expanding the offering to gourmet stores in metro cities as it scales up in the segment.
“Our ambition is to be seen as a serious coffee player just like we have equity in the market with Tata Tea. We aim to have a sizable share in the market as we grow,” Das added.
As the coffee culture evolves, the company will also evaluate new coffee variants like green coffee in India.
source: http://www.indianretailer.com / The Indian Retailer / Home> News / by Vaishnavi Gupta, Features Writer / June 03rd, 2021
BV Prashanth, An auto driver from Kodagu, in Karnataka came forward and took the responsibility of transporting residents who had tested positive for the virus in the pandemic
________________________________
BV Prashanth, An auto driver from Kodagu, in Karnataka came forward and took the responsibility of transporting residents who had tested positive for the virus in the pandemic.
He has so far assisted in the transport of 55 COVID patients and will continue to do so till the lockdown is lifted.
Prashanth, a resident of Suntikoppa, has become a COVID warrior. Parvathy (65), his mother, was diagnosed with COVID-19 about a month ago. Her health was critical, and she was sent to the COVID Hospital in Madikeri, where she was placed on a ventilator. After a successful treatment, she returned to her home.
Prashanth saw the helplessness of many COVID sufferers during the pandemic. He had witnessed a lot of people deteriorating their situations as not being able to reach hospitals in the essential time. Many COVID patients, he noted, were hampered by the lack of transportation options.
A school teacher and her entire family, who live close to his home, also tested positive for COVID. No one offered to drive them to the COVID Hospital in Madikeri, which is about 15 kilometers distant. Prashanth recalls that he took the risk and dropped them off at the hospital. After that, he shared his phone number with WhatsApp groups and began his service on April 30.
He asked permission from the panchayat and obtained the ID card and the pass required to run the auto during the curfew in the pandemic.
He also mentioned the people whom he had carried to the hospital and lost their lives due to the disease.
Jeevan, a doctor at Suntikoppa Hospital, gives Prashanth personal protective equipment (PPE) to safeguard his safety. Sunil, a panchayat member, Rakesh, a social worker, and members of the Suntikoppa Rakshana Vedike are also supporting the project by assisting with fuel arrangements.
His initiative also includes an HIV-positive pregnant woman whom he had carried to the Madikeri Hospital. He says his work brings him great pleasure. At first, his family was concerned about his safety. However, they are now proud of her accomplishments.
source: http://www.thehansindia.com / The Hans India / Home> News> State> Karnataka / by Susmita Modak, Hans News Service / June 01st, 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
Giving a dignified closure to unclaimed, untouched bodies
Kushalnagar:
COVID-19 is a lonely disease where last rites have become a tragic, solitary affair. At times, families who have lost their loved ones to the contagion are reluctant to perform the final rites and even refuse to claim the bodies of their kin.
That’s where volunteers of the Seva Bharati organisation in Kushalnagar, Kodagu, come in, treating these unclaimed bodies as more than a name tag, a body bag or a cadaver and giving them a dignified farewell. The worst of times have brought out the best among people, as these unsung heroes quietly perform last rites without compromising on rituals, such as the faith of the deceased.
The pandemic has wreaked havoc on Kodagu and given the spread of the virus, family members are wary of performing the last rites of their loved ones, and are relying on the kindness of these volunteers. Every day, around 18 volunteers are busy performing the last rites of those who succumbed to COVID-19. Kodagu has seen over 204 deaths so far due to the virus.
“A man had died after contracting COVID-19 last year and his family was not aware of the protocol. Those were the early days when the caseload was manageable. “Nobody came forward to do the final rites of the deceased person. It was then that we decided to step in and perform the last rites ourselves. This is where we have started and we have been continuing this work even now, during the second wave where the death rate has spiked,” said advocate from Harangi Bharat Machaiah, who leads the Seva Bharati team.
58 bodies cremated so far
“We have so far cremated 58 bodies in the second wave alone and the numbers keep growing by the day. It is heart-breaking as families refuse to perform the last rites of their loved one who has passed away. We have performed the last rites of people belonging to all communities with the sole intention of giving them a dignified send-off,” he said.
The volunteers do not charge a single rupee from the family of the deceased and perform all the tasks free of cost. Their contact numbers are circulating across the hospitals and crematoriums and they are continuously getting calls from families. Hospital and crematoriums are also approaching them.
The Seva Bharati volunteers have been carrying out the last rites as per the religious practices of the deceased, by following all precautionary measures suggested by the Government and World Health Organisation and they get their PPE kits from the Government.
Alert round-the-clock
The team of dedicated workers is on alert round-the-clock and as soon as they receive information on the need to perform last rites, they reach the spot and begin preparations. Not only Madikeri, the team goes anywhere in the district if they get a call and perform the last rites — distance and terrain do not matter here. Before conducting the rituals, the deceased’s family members are consulted to know about the rituals as per their religion and caste.
Along with Bharat Machaiah, the other team members who are doing this noble deed are Navneeth Ponnetti, Rajiv, Dinesh, K.K. Janardhan, Ranjit, P.K. Raghu, Tanmay, Sandeep, Roopesh, Prashanth, Nuthan, Nandan, Akshay, Manjunath, Vinu and Shivaram. “Some relatives do not come even for immersion of ashes. They are scared despite we all knowing that the virus dies in fire. We also perform the last rituals like immersion of ashes where rivers meet after the body is burnt,” Bharat Machaiah said.
“Cremating the dead while wearing PPE suits is difficult especially when the temperatures are rising but the courage and inspiration to offer service comes from within and there is a supernatural power guiding us,” said a volunteer. “We have had to face quite a bit of opposition from our families initially. We have had a hard time making them understand that we are taking all precautions. Even our families are worried about our safety. Now they have started recognising our work and they appreciate our tireless service,” he said.
Journalists also pitch in
Apart from doing their routine job in media, a group of journalists performed the last rites of an elderly man who died of COVID-19. Reporters associated with ‘Madhyama Spandana’ that was formed for COVID relief works got a call from a remote village near Parane as local villagers were reluctant to help the victim’s family perform the last rites.
The team comprising Rejith Kumar Guyya, Pappu Thimmaiah, Praveen and Anish and another person Shareen rushed to the village after collecting PPE kits from Siddapura Panchayat and performed the last rites as per the family tradition.
The house was located at a hilly terrain and this did not deter the journalists.
The reporters said that they helped poor people get beds in hospitals and supplied food kits, medicines and other essentials to the needy after spending from their own pockets.
This is for the first time that they performed the last rites of a COVID victim.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / May 20th, 2021
Canteens at Virajpet and Madikeri get a raw deal always, says IAF Veteran Sergeant
Kushalnagar:
Long queues were seen at military canteens in Virajpet and Madikeri this morning as ex-servicemen and their family members lined up to buy groceries and their quota of liquor.
Shops selling essential items in Kodagu are allowed to open only three days a week — Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Reports from Madikeri said that ex-servicemen began queuing up in front of the canteens since 3 am today as the canteen authorities had communicated to them that the quota of supplies for the month of May would be distributed this month end only for two days. Ex-servicemen rushed to the canteens today not to miss their quota for May.
The military canteens at Virajpet and Madikeri are the extension canteens of Golden Palm Canteen of Karnataka and Kerala Army Sub Area, Bengaluru.
Journalists heckled
The unusually long queues attracted media attention and two reporters who went to cover the event were allegedly heckled by the Police and security guards. One lady journalist’s mobile phone was snatched and thrown onto the road while she was video-graphing the incident. Before heckling the journalists, the Police demanded identity cards from them and the journalists told the Police that they had kept their identity cards at home.
After the chaotic incident, the journalists complained to Superintendent of Police Kshama Mishra that they were pushed around by the Police. The SP has promised action against her staff if they have erred. Even the manager of the Military canteen has assured that action will be taken against those who heckled the journalists.
Reacting on the incident, Kodagu Press Club President B.R. Savitha Rai said that the journalists should have carried their identity cards. “Not carrying identity cards while reporting and arguing with the Police is not a right thing though the incident is unfortunate. In this time of crisis, the Police have every right to question anyone. In a democracy, even journalists have the right to cover any event, provided they carry their identity cards,” she said.
Step-motherly treatment
Meanwhile, Hon. Legal Advisor of T. Shettigeri Ex-Servicemen Association and Veteran Sergeant of Indian Air Force Mandetira N. Subramani has stated that the officer-in-charge of Golden Palm Canteen, Bengaluru, could have taken some interest to send the consignment of groceries and liquor to its extension counters in Madikeri and Virajpet on priority in the beginning of every month instead of sending the consignments at the fag end of every month.
“This mad rush and the ugly scene at Madikeri would have been avoided,” he stated in a letter to the senior manager of Golden Palm Canteen. “Despite Kodagu being a cradle of general officers and gallant senior army officers and soldiers, the canteens at Madikeri and Virajpet are being given a raw deal with step-motherly treatment by sending the monthly consignments of grocery and liquor always in the middle or end of the month,” he added.
Subramani has appealed to the senior manager to streamline things and send the consignments at the beginning of every month so that people can have enough time to purchase and the month-end rush is avoided especially during pandemic times.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / May 28th, 2021
Director falls for Rashmika Mandanna innocence and beauty
It is known news that Kannada lady Rashmika Mandanna who has already won the hearts of the Telugu movie lovers, is expanding her market in Bollywood.
She is playing the female lead in Hindi Film Mission Majnu, in which she is sharing the screen space with Sidharth Malhotra.
The action thriller drama is backed by RSVP Movies and Guilty by Association. Rashmika and Sidharth starrer Mission Majnu is inspired by the real events set in the 1970s. And it will reveal the story of India’s most courageous mission. Sidharth Malhotra is playing the role of a RAW agent who leads the mission.
Recently during the media interaction the director Shantanu Baagchi, who was seeking a female lead in the Sidharth Malhotra starrer, revealed that he was impressed by Rashmika Mandanna’ nuanced performance in Dear Comrade which was released in 2019. Rashmika has the right mixture of innocence and beauty.
The producer Amar Butala revealed that Rashmika picked up every nuance of the character despite being on a video call. Bheeshma girl has the sincere energy of a newcomer.
In Tollywood, Rashmika Mandanna is working with Icon Star Allu Arjun in an action thriller drama Pushpa, which is being directed by Sukumar and is bankrolled by Mythri Movie Makers.
source: http://www.tollywood.net / Tollywood.net / Home> News> Top Stories / by Murali Ravi /May 09th, 2021
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