TCN News
As India braces for a predicted peak in COVID-19 infection, Aligarh Muslim University has offered to turn its hostels into quarantine facilities.
The decision was announced on Friday after recommendations of a committee constituted by the university VC, Professor Tariq Mansoor.
Immediately after the session, three hostels – Moniuddin Hostel, S N Hall and UFC HRD Centre have started preparing the hostel into wards with sufficient quarantine equipment and medical staffing.
“The medical in-charges of both quarantine facilities will prepare duty rosters for doctors and the nursing staff and paramedical staff and will ensure the availability of medicines,” Registrar Abdul Hamid stated.
Moinuddin Hostel and S N Hall have been declared as quarantine facilities for female students and the UGC HRD Centre would be used for isolating male students exposed to the infection. The registrar has also informed that Provost of S N Hall would take charge of Moinuddin Hostel while the Director of UGC HRD Centre would look over the UGC HRD Centre quarantine facility.
A team of doctors have also been deployed at the Moinuddin Hostel facility for females, including Dr Frah Ashhar, Dr Sana Maria, Dr Nishat Haider Rizvi and Nishat Fatima. At the male wards, doctors Najmul Huda Khan, Dr Naheed Perwin, Dr M Moazzam Hyder and Dr Tayyaba Liaquat would be supervising. For urgent notices, AMU’s JNMC Medical Superintendent and University Health Officer can also be contacted, according to the official duty circular.
The registrar Abdul Hamid has further informed that once the university reopens, Bibi Fatima Hall and Annexe of Dr B R Ambedkar Hall would act as quarantine centres for girls and boys respectively. However, these facilities would be used only when there is a lack of space for patients in the Moinuddin Hostel and UGC HRD Centre quarantine centres.
While the hostels have been turned into special facilities, its students have been shifted to Begum Azeezun Nisa Hall and Dr B R Ambedkar Hall. All information regarding the shifting can be availed from the Dean Students’ Welfare, he added.
The VC’s committee for COVID-19 response at AMU has further recommended to immediately admit infected students residing in University hostels to JNMC, AMU’s medical hospital, while their roommates could be moved to designated quarantine centres. Based on the Centre’s guidelines, the wing of hostels where COVID positive students are housed would be marked as a containment zones.
Further, university employees who are tested positive have been asked to self-quarantine at University Health Services Centre after undergoing treatment. In case they refuse to be quarantined at their own homes after the treatment, they can do the same at AMU’s health centres where University Health Officer, Director of MAS and Principal doctors at A K Tibbiya College would conduct regular health checkups of employees.
Additionally, AMU is strictly following social distancing norms. It is also maintaining thermal scanning arrangements for all visitors at the main gates of residential hostels and halls.