WHO Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan showed interest in the ‘Ahmedabad model’ of Covid-19 management

The World Health Organization, today, advised the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) to create an army of contact tracers to help identify people who have come in contact with COVID-19 patients.

Dr Soumya Swaminathan, WHO’s chief scientist, in a virtual meeting with AMC officials stressed the need to create an army of contact tracers, consisting of students and graduates and training them like it has been done in Germany and the UK, said a report by WION.

She showed interest in the ‘Ahmedabad model’ (Covid-19 management model) which comprises screening and testing vans, 104 fever helpline service and PPP model of roping in private hospitals for treating patients. The chief scientist was quoted by WION saying that the interventions were very useful and encouraging experiences which could be adopted by other cities

An official statement said WHO will be providing a platform for sharing the Ahmedabad model with other cities in India and across the world as part of its ongoing exercise of sharing and learning from best practices of COVID-19 management.

WHO has also lauded AMC utilising Aarogya Setu Data Intelligence for surveillance and testing.

Read the full report on WION