BHOPAL: Learning its lesson hard from the Covid-19 second wave, the state government is preparing on war-footing to combat the possible third wave.
Besides focusing on vaccination, the government is concentrating on ramping up its health care infrastructure, be it increasing bed capacity in the hospitals, installation of oxygen plants, ensuring medical supplies, equipment and ramping up health facilities.
In a bid to check the spread of the infection, daily around 70 samples are collected for testing across the state.
On administrative front as well, the government apprehending a new wave in the coming months has extended the 5-day week working rule in government offices to October 31. The order issued by the state government was supposed to be effective till July 31, 2021.
Similarly, the government has extended the ban on movement of buses to Maharashtra till July 28, an official said. The government had suspended the bus services to Maharashtra in March this year following a surge in Covid-19 cases in the neighbouring state.
Medical oxygen plant in Bhopal | FP photo
‘People should cooperate in vaccination campaign’ “We are carrying out an inoculation drive as it is the only shield against the Coronavirus. Looking at the possible third wave, we are concentrating on vaccination and people should cooperate with the administration in making the vaccination drive a success. We are strategically administering vaccines to people and those who have not yet received the vaccine should come forward.”Dr Santosh Shukla, State immunization officer
‘Focus on vaccination in prisons’ “Steps are being taken to ensure that if at all there is a Covid-19 third wave we are well prepared to tackle it. Our main focus is vaccination. Around 99 per cent prisoners have been vaccinated against the coronavirus and 50 per cent of them have received both the doses. Process is underway to vaccinate others. Besides, newcomers to the prison have been segregated and subjected for testing and samples collection.”Dinesh Narware, Jail superintendent
‘250 oxygen concentrators backup in Hamidia’ “ We have an additional backup of 250 oxygen concentrators. As we have oxygen plants, now we are in a position to supply oxygen to 1200 beds in Hamidia Hospital. Civil work is underway in B-block and after its completion, we will have 1000 beds in Hamidia Hospital. As far as equipment are concerned, we have that in required numbers.’Dr Lokendra Dave, Medical superintendent Hamidia Hospital
Focus on increasing bed capacity: At medical front, the health department is working on increasing the bed capacity in the government hospitals. The department aims to increase the number of beds from 19,359 to 27,448 by the end September. The department of medical education currently has 2,983 ICU beds, while the health department has 784 ICU beds. The health department will add 650 beds and DME 575 to the current numbers. By September end, the state aims to have 5021 ICU beds.
3297 dedicated beds for children: The health department and DME have 379 and 644 beds respectively in the pediatric ward of their medical facilities. The two departments will add 964 and 260 beds respectively taking the tally to 2,247. The health department has 200 beds in Pediatrics Intensive Care Units (PICU), while the DME has 326 beds for the children. The two departments will arrange for 320 and 204 more beds in their facilities taking the bed capacity to 1,050. So, there will be 3297 dedicated beds for children
Ensuring regular oxygen supply to hospitals…
Seeing the shortage of oxygen during the second wave, the administration is also ensuing installation of oxygen plants in districts. In Bhopal, oxygen plants are being installed at JP Hospital, Katju Hospital and Bairagarh. Five private hospitals will also have their own oxygen plants. Work is underway for the installation of oxygen plants in other districts.
