Bhubaneswar, 29/6 (AO Bureau): Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik opined that tackling the Covid epidemic is a joint social responsibility. This was stated by Chief Minister Shri Patnaik while inaugurating a 100-bed Covid Hospital built in collaboration with Vedanta Group in Devgarh through video conferencing today.
The chief minister said everyone needed cooperation to fight the epidemic. The Chief Minister said that it was gratifying to see the PSUs of the corporate sector, the state and central governments working together with private hospitals in this regard, adding that the epidemic was a joint social responsibility. So the Chief Minister opined that everyone needs to work to cope at their own level.
The 100-bed hospital in Deogarh has 12 ICUs, 32 HDUs, a special children’s ward and all state-of-the-art medical equipment and laboratories. The state government has taken over the responsibility of providing all medical facilities, medicines and food to the patients at the hospital. There is already a 180-bed Covid Hospital in Devgarh. As a result, two Covid hospitals have now been established in the district.
The Chief Minister said that while the second wave of Covid was not over yet, the information of the third wave had arrived. “We are continuing our preparations to address this,” he said, adding that the health infrastructure has been strengthened with the provision of Liquid Medical Oxygen in 30 districts of the state. Our policy in coating management is – all lives are precious. Under the policy, the state government has taken on the responsibility of providing medical care, testing and food. This has strengthened people’s confidence in the system. The Chief Minister hoped that we could better deal with the uncertainty of the epidemic due to better health infrastructure.
He thanked Chief Minister Group Chairman Anil Agrawal for Vedanta’s cooperation in setting up the hospital in Devgarh and said that western Odisha was most affected by the second wave of Kovadar. “It simply came to our notice then. The Chief Minister thanked the people, doctors, health workers, Asha and Anganwadi workers of the district for their excellent performance in the control of Kovid.
“The vaccine will protect us,” he said. But the chief minister urged the government to abide by all of Covid’s rules for complete security.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Steel Shri Dharmendra Pradhan said that due to the efforts of all, the impact of covids in Odisha is declining. He thanked everyone for that. He said Covid was now under control in western Odisha, including the Devgad district, and supported the need to implement another Covid hospital proposal in Sambalpur. He lauded the efforts of the state government to produce vaccines in Odisha and stressed the need for the vaccination program to be carried out in a planned manner so that everyone can get vaccinated within 6-8 months.
Joining the function, Health Minister Shri Nab Das, Minister for Women and Child Development Mrs. Tukuni Sahu lauded the Chief Minister’s strong leadership in the field of caviar control and improvement of health infrastructure in Odisha.
Vedanta Group Chairman Shri Anil Agrawal, who attended the function, said that Odisha is number one in the country in the management of Kovid. He thanked the chief minister and said that the Vedanta group was always ready to cooperate with any program in the state, including vaccination.
Sambalpur MP Shri Nitish Gangadev, Devgarh MLA Shri Subash Panigrahi attended the main function and shared their views.
Chief Minister’s Secretary (5th) Shri V.K. Pandian conducted the program.
The Devgarh district commissioner delivered the welcome address and thanked the Vedanta CEO.
Chief Secretary Shri Suresh Chandra Mohapatra, Development Commissioner Shri P.K. Jenna, Additional Chief Administrative Secretary, Department of Health, Mr. P.K. Mohapatra was the chief guest.