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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe coronavirus slayer! How Kerala's rock star health minister helped save it from Covid-19
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/14/the-coronavirus-slayer-how-keralas-rock-star-health-minister-helped-save-it-from-covid-19
KK Shailaja has been hailed as the reason a state of 35 million people has only lost four to the virus. Heres how the former teacher did it
On 20 January, KK Shailaja phoned one of her medically trained deputies. She had read online about a dangerous new virus spreading in China. Will it come to us? she asked. Definitely, Madam, he replied. And so the health minister of the Indian state of Kerala began her preparations.
Four months later, Kerala has reported only 524 cases of Covid-19, four deaths and according to Shailaja no community transmission. The state has a population of about 35 million and a GDP per capita of only £2,200. By contrast, the UK (double the population, GDP per capita of £33,100) has reported more than 40,000 deaths, while the US (10 times the population, GDP per capita of £51,000) has reported more than 82,000 deaths; both countries have rampant community transmission.
As such, Shailaja Teacher, as the 63-year-old minister is affectionately known, has attracted some new nicknames in recent weeks Coronavirus Slayer and Rockstar Health Minister among them. The names sit oddly with the merry, bespectacled former secondary school science teacher, but they reflect the widespread admiration she has drawn for demonstrating that effective disease containment is possible not only in a democracy, but in a poor one.
How has this been achieved? Three days after reading about the new virus in China, and before Kerala had its first case of Covid-19, Shailaja held the first meeting of her rapid response team. The next day, 24 January, the team set up a control room and instructed the medical officers in Keralas 14 districts to do the same at their level. By the time the first case arrived, on 27 January, via a plane from Wuhan, the state had already adopted the World Health Organizations protocol of test, trace, isolate and support.
KK Shailaja has been hailed as the reason a state of 35 million people has only lost four to the virus. Heres how the former teacher did it
On 20 January, KK Shailaja phoned one of her medically trained deputies. She had read online about a dangerous new virus spreading in China. Will it come to us? she asked. Definitely, Madam, he replied. And so the health minister of the Indian state of Kerala began her preparations.
Four months later, Kerala has reported only 524 cases of Covid-19, four deaths and according to Shailaja no community transmission. The state has a population of about 35 million and a GDP per capita of only £2,200. By contrast, the UK (double the population, GDP per capita of £33,100) has reported more than 40,000 deaths, while the US (10 times the population, GDP per capita of £51,000) has reported more than 82,000 deaths; both countries have rampant community transmission.
As such, Shailaja Teacher, as the 63-year-old minister is affectionately known, has attracted some new nicknames in recent weeks Coronavirus Slayer and Rockstar Health Minister among them. The names sit oddly with the merry, bespectacled former secondary school science teacher, but they reflect the widespread admiration she has drawn for demonstrating that effective disease containment is possible not only in a democracy, but in a poor one.
How has this been achieved? Three days after reading about the new virus in China, and before Kerala had its first case of Covid-19, Shailaja held the first meeting of her rapid response team. The next day, 24 January, the team set up a control room and instructed the medical officers in Keralas 14 districts to do the same at their level. By the time the first case arrived, on 27 January, via a plane from Wuhan, the state had already adopted the World Health Organizations protocol of test, trace, isolate and support.
It would be nice to have a government that chooses to protect people during a pandemic. Kerala is a leftist state where the Communist Party of India routinely wins elections and is currently in power, so they are used to socialist measures.
My uncle flew there from the US in March and their contact tracers put everyone on his flight in quarantine because one passenger had tested positive for COVID-19. He was released after 2 weeks and testing negative.
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The coronavirus slayer! How Kerala's rock star health minister helped save it from Covid-19 (Original Post)
IronLionZion
May 2020
OP
mercuryblues
(14,537 posts)1. We used to do that here
Now we drink bleach and shove UV lights up our ass.
Initech
(100,100 posts)2. 'Murica!!!
malaise
(269,157 posts)3. This is wonderful
Thanks - going to show my neighbot
IronLionZion
(45,523 posts)4. COVID is global, but America is infected with MAGA
where education makes people weak, pathetic, little snowflakes brainwashed by the liberal elite.
With widespread access to education, there is a definite understanding of health being important to the wellbeing of people, says Cariappa.
Shailaja says Keralas high literacy level is another factor: People understand why they must stay at home. You can explain it to them.
Their population is also disproportionately elderly and female, which may also contribute to support for their aggressive measures.
Rjymeena
(17 posts)5. when a teacher and not a buffoon at the forefront
Kerala state has one of the highest literacy rates in India.
Just realized that this another example of how woman administrators are running the show.
We need more compassionate women (cough not Ivanka) at the top to turn the country around.
PS: my first post in DU. Have been reading DU for years.
IronLionZion
(45,523 posts)6. Welcome to DU!
Great first post
Rjymeena
(17 posts)7. Thank you!
JI7
(89,262 posts)8. This also shows that even without a lot of money you can still deal with it by just listening to
people who know about this and having the right leaders in place .