New Delhi, June 5 (IANS): With the aim to provide all necessary assistance to its staffers testing positive for coronavirus and to facilitate their treatment, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) on Friday formed a 'Staff Welfare Cell' and a 'Core Group' including doctors to manage critical COVID-19 employees.
The "NDMC Staff Welfare Cell" includes eight members -- Director (Welfare) as Nodal Officer; Assistant Labour Welfare Officer as Assistant Nodal Officer; PA to Director, Welfare Department; Senior Assistant and Head Assistant from Welfare Department, among others.
The Cell has been directed to look after the new responsibility in addition to the existing work, the NDMC said.
"NDMC Staff Welfare Cell will provide all necessary help or assistance for proper medical treatment to COVID-19 positive officials of NDMC," the order said.
Also, all the Heads of Department of NDMC will provide details of such officials who are found to be positive for coronavirus or suspected COVID-19 cases to the Cell immediately.
"On getting the information, the Cell will immediately maintain record/data of the affected or suspected officers or officials and one of the members of the Cell will immediately contact the patient or his family members for facilitating treatment for COVID-19 including organising testing, consultancy and hospitalisation based on the requirement of the employee."
The Cell will maintain department wise details of all such officers or officials and follow up with them on a regular basis till they are recovered, the order noted.
"The NDMC Staff Welfare Cell shall also be responsible for sharing of detail of COVID-19 cases of NDMC employees with the State Nodal Welfare Officer and taking action on their advice."
The Cell will disseminate all relevant information relating to COVID-19 to all officers or officials through their HoDs, it added.
"In case the infected or suspected officer or official is required to be tested or hospitalised, the cell will liaise with the empanelled hospitals or labs for testing and treatment or hospitalization on an urgent basis."
Also, the Cell has been directed to ensure that the families of the infected employees have access to supply of essential goods/services/medicines.
"In case they require any help on these issues the Cell will ensure supply of essential goods/services/medicines either through NDMC or through respective District Administration."
The Cell will also be responsible for arranging psychological counselling, moral support and experience sharing with infected employees and their family members through Director (Medical Services), Charak Palika Hospital.
"The Cell will also liaise with the State Nodal Welfare Officer, Delhi government and District Administration in case of any requirement or any issue pertaining to management of COVID-19 cases."
The order also said the Cell will be provided requisite number of staff/logistic support in case the number of COVID-19 positive cases increases in future.
Till Friday afternoon, a total 56 cases were reported from the NDMC with 50 active cases. Two deaths of NDMC staffers have also been reported.
In addition to the Cell, the NDMC has also set up a 'Core Group' to deal with critical cases and any emergent situation which arises during management of COVID-19 cases relating to NDMC officers/officials.
"The Core Group is constituted with the four members -- Medical Officer Health; Director (MS); Director (Welfare) and Director (Coordination/COVID Cell).
"The Core Group will meet on alternate days to review the situation of COVID-19 cases and will be responsible to brief the Chairman/Secretary on regular basis about the status of COVID-19 cases in NDMC and its management," another order from the NDMC read.
It said the Core Group is also mandated to suggest ways and means to contain the COVID-19 cases for their better management.