With Covid-19 cases rising in the country, the Indian government has
initiated a massive training programme for willing AYUSH practitioners, among
others, as part of its preparedness to handle any emergency situation.

AYUSH doctors, paramedics and students, who are willing to volunteer,
can register themselves on the AYUSH ministry website to avail training. The
ministry has published a facilitator guide ‘Training resources for Covid-19
management’, defining the various roles that can be assumed by the volunteers.

A majority will be entrusted with the task of ‘Infection Prevention and
Control’ that includes activities such as public awareness, early
identification and reporting, tracking and addressing of rumours and misinformation.

While AYUSH students may be tasked with the role of ‘Field
surveillance’, AYUSH doctors have been included in the category of healthcare
professionals who can be deputed as ‘Field Supervisors’. The latter can also be
deployed at Isolation facilities.

In a high-level meet, presided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on March
30, it was suggested that “the human resources, medical, paramedical as well as
non-medical may be kept identified and trained…their services as and when
required, can be utilised either for treatment and management, or for
surveillance or other management work related to Covid-19…”.

There are 1764 confirmed Covid-19 cases in the country which so far
reported 50 deaths due to the viral infection.

Besides, AYUSH practitioners, the category of healthcare professionals
include Allopathic doctors, doctors drawn from Army, Paramilitary and Railways,
Medical interns, nursing students, PHC doctors and Physiotherapists among
others.

For more information, log on to http://ayush.gov.in/event/training-resources-covid-19-management.