Parliament proceedings | Vardhan says that children between 0-14 years of age are less affected by COVID.

The analysis shows that children in the age group of 0-14 are less affected by COVID-19, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan informed the Lok Sabha on Friday.

He said in a written reply that the infection in children is mild and most of them remain asymptomatic. “Therefore, to reduce the adverse effects of COVID-19 on such children, no specific action plan has been prepared in the current response phase,” he said.

A severe disease has rarely been identified as multi-system inflammatory syndrome, Mr. Vardhan said, adding it occurs three to six weeks after infection.

He said that the Department of Pediatrics, AIIMS is documenting the long-term effects of COVID-19 infection in children. The Minister was replying to the question whether the Government has prepared any action plan to control and reduce the adverse effects of COVID-19 in children aged 0-14 years.

For proper management of COVID-19 cases, a three-tier arrangement of health facilities has been implemented – COVID care centers with isolation beds for mild or pre-symptomatic cases, COVIDs dedicated to oxygen supported isolation beds for moderate cases. Health Center (DCHC) Dedicated COVID Hospital (DCH) with ICU beds for serious cases, he said. Guidelines on the clinical management of COVID-19 have been issued, Mr. Vardhan said. They also provide for the management of complications.

Has the government made any assessment of the adverse effects of COVID-19 on the mental health of children and provided psychological support through health professionals, Mr. Vardhan said that the Ministry of Education has initiated a program called ‘Menoderpan’, in which Widely covered activities to provide psycho-social support to students, teachers and families for mental health and emotional well-being. He said that there is a national toll-free helpline 8448440632 to provide tele counseling for students, parents and teachers in dealing with the situation.

The standard operating procedure for health and safety protocols for reopening schools issued by the Ministry of Education has included guidelines to promote emotional well-being of students and teachers. Shri Vardhan said that the Ministry of Health set up a 24/7 helpline on March 29, 2020 through NIMHANS, Bangalore to provide psycho-social support to people divided into various target groups.

To expand services in regional and local languages, services were also provided in various states and union territories including two Central Mental Health Institutions – namely LGB Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur and Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi. He said that guidelines and advice were issued on the management of mental health issues for various sectors of the society. Shri Vardhan said that all the guidelines, advice and advocacy material can be seen on the website of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare under ‘Behavioral Health – Psychological-Social Helpline’.

He further stated that various media platforms were used for creative and audio-visual materials to manage stress and anxiety and to promote an environment of support and care for all. To relieve the burden of mental disorders, the Government of India is implementing the National Mental Health Program (NMHP), Mr. Vardhan said, adding that the government supports the implementation of the District Mental Health Program (DMHP) under NMHP in 692 districts of the country. Still working. .

To create awareness among people about mental illnesses, information, education and communication (IEC) activities are an integral part of NMHP, he said, and at the district level, awareness of up to ₹ 4 lakh per year under DMMP Is provided for. Generational activities, he said.