Bhubaneswar: Odisha government has already written to the Centre for having a monkeypox testing facility in the State, informed Health & Family Welfare Minister Naba Kisore Das.
“They have notified 15 places in the country for monkeypox testing. In Odisha, it can be done at ICMR (RMRC) but for that, we need to get permission from the Government of India (GoI) and if kits are provided monkeypox samples can be tested in Bhubaneswar. Our Department has already written to the GoI in this regard. I will also discuss with the Union Minister in this connection,” revealed Das speaking to reporters after a high-level meeting on monkeypox chaired by him at the Lok Seva Bhawan here today.
He said that latest by August 10 training will be imparted to a child specialist, a skin specialist, a medicine specialist and one from ICTC from each district at SCB Medical College & Hospital or here.
They will be trained on symptoms and other aspects of monkeypox after which we will be appointing a nodal officer for monkeypox in each district, he added.
The Minister informed that a committee for monkeypox led by Prof (Dr Jayant Das has already been constituted at SCB Medical College & Hospital.
He added that all medical colleges in the State have been directed to keep two seats vacant for suspected monkeypox cases.
While emphasizing on the need to remain vigilant, the Minister said that though there is no reason to panic, but people need to adhere to guidelines issued by the Centre.
