Maharashtra gears up for second wave of swine flu; plans workshops

Preparing for a second wave of swine flu in winter as predicted by WHO, Maharashtra Government has decided to organise a series of workshops to train family doctors and paramedicals statewide to battle the H1N1 virus.

"The government will work closely with pharma company Wanbury and Indian Medical Association by organising workshops and training programmes for doctors and other paramedical staff," secretary of medical education, Milind Mhaiskar told media here today. The five-day training programmes in all districts including worst-hit Wardha, Pune, Malegaon, Jalgaon will be held in the next two to three weeks, he said.

"Once we finish the trainings at the district level, similar workshops would be held at taluka level," S Krishnakumar, general manager, Corporate Business Development of Wanbury said.

Wanbury is funding the workshops as a part of its corporate social responsibility, he said adding that it has also sponsored a dedicated round-the-clock call centre with a toll free number 1800226336 to help people on queries related to swine flu. So far, Maharashtra has recorded 147 deaths due to Swine Flu.