Karnataka hires 'Corona warriors' to provide real-time information, avoid fake news menace

Mangaluru, Apr 3: The laboratory at District Wenlock Hospital has initiated trial for Covid 19 testing, close on the heels of receiving permission from state government.

Doctors, elected representatives and stakeholders had repeatedly demanded that a laboratory should be set up in the port city. Without the lab, the samples were sent either to Shivamogga or to Bengaluru for testing. When Heath Minister Sriramulu had visited Mangaluru on March 17, he had promised a lab in the city for testing of the samples.

Accordingly, the government gave permission for starting the laboratory at Wenlock Hospital. The process of registering the lab with Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) will be completed shortly. The laboratory will be fully operational only after it is registered.

Bengaluru, Jul 15: Karnataka Congress Chief D K Shivakumar on Wednesday urged the Ministers in the state to visit Covid-19 designated hospitals and instil confidence among patients, doctors and medical staff there.

Noting that doctors, nurses and others were doing a great job, Shivakumar said the government has to stand with them and instil confidence in them. Speaking to reporters after visiting Victoria hospital, a major dedicated Covid hospital in the city, he said, "All the Ministers have to go to hospitals and instil confidence in the staff, patients.... they have to remove fear and tell them we will have to live with this (virus), and cannot escape from it."

Shivakumar said he believes that by instilling confidence most part of the diseases can be cured. He lauded doctors, paramedical and other staff working at the Hospital for the sake of patients, putting their own life at risk and appreciated facilities provided there.

During the visit, the state Congress President interacted with patients undergoing treatment for Covid-19, also medical staff and doctors. He said at Victoria hospital patients were allowed to use mobile phones, so that they can speak to family members, which has to an extent instilled confidence among them, and the same has to be replicated across the state.

Not wishing to comment on complaints about the quality of facility and PPE kits provided at the hospital, also alleged misappropriation on part of the government in the purchase of equipment for Covid treatment, Shivakumar said, "....let's see that at Vidhana Soudha (seat of state's legislature)." He said, "this is not the time to talk about corruption and other things, this is not the time for it....instilling confidence among patients, doctors and paramedical staff is important now."

Udupi, Feb 29: Senior Congress leader and Udupi’s crackers trader K Krishnaraja Saralaya allegedly committed suicide by jumping into a well outside his house at Paniyadi on Saturday.

He was 87, Krishnaraja was leading a solitary life. It is suspected that he ended his life ''due to mental agony''.

He is survived by two daughters. One is settled in Australia another is in Bengaluru. Saralaya had also served as President of Udupi Town Co-operative Society. The police visited the spot .