STATE TIMES NEWS LEH: Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Leh under the administrative control of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir organized a national level webinar on ‘COVID-19: Maintaining an Appropriate Behaviour’ for the farming community of Ladakh region. Giving details of the national webinar Dr. F. D. Sheikh, Programme Coordinator, KVK-Leh said that as an endaveour to aware the farmers about the deadly disease and how to keep ourselves safe from this virus, a national level webinar was organized by KVK-Leh. Dr. Padma Angmo, Psychiatrist and Dr. Spalchen Gonbo, Pediatrician at SNM Hospital Leh were the special invitees to the webinar. Dr. Parveen Kumar, SMS (Ag. Extension) at KVK-Leh said that in view of the various myths related with the disease, it was necessary to educate the farming community regarding COVID-19. While welcoming the participants from across the country, Dr. Kumar spoke on different aspects of maintaining an appropriate behaviour during COVID-19 which included social distancing, use of masks, use of sanitizer, frequent hand washing, preventing overcrowded places, avoiding unnecessary travel, not spitting at public places, using tissue papers while coughing and sneezing and their proper disposal, sanitizing frequently used places like door handles, knobs, utensils and other items. Dr. Padma deliberated upon the various issues like anxiety and stress related to mental health during COVID-19. Mild anxiety and stress should be managed with physical exercise and Yoga, reading good books and if the problem gets severe than medication only under the supervision of a doctor becomes necessary. She advised all to go for physical distancing instead of social distancing. Dr. Angmo also reported of the some disturbing cases where the entire families of COVID-19 infected persons have been boycotted by the villagers. She advised all to shun such practices and not to treat it as a social stigma; instead all of us should motivate the patient and be sympathetic towards the family members. Dr. Spalchen called upon the adult family members to vaccinate them and follow an appropriate behaviour in order to avoid any risk to children of their families. Dr. Spalchen also talked of the Post COVID complication i. e Multiple Inflammatory Syndrome known as MIS-C in children. Although MIS-C is a very rare complication in India but is very severe and advised parents to immediately rush their children to hospital in case they found symptoms like fever, skin rashes and redness of skin, persistent cough, difficulty in breathing and other related symptoms. Dr. F. D. Sheikh duly acknowledged all the resource persons for deliberating on this very important issue and enriching the knowledge of all.
