Health Minister orders for testing facilities, beds in hospitals at earliest
   Date :04-Apr-2021


Health  ministry_1 &
 Health Minister T S Singhdeo and District In-charge Minister Ravindra Choubey chairing the meeting.
 
Staff Reporter :
 
RAIPUR,
 
Health and Family Welfare Minister T S Singhdeo and In-charge Minister of Raipur district Ravindra Choubey jointly chaired a meeting of senior officials of Health Department, District and Police administration and other departments concerned, to review the COVID-19 pandemic situation in Capital. Health Minister T S Singhdeo said that there has been a steep rise in the number of COVID-19 +ve cases across country, including Chhattisgarh. Last year, the department had taken all measures to overcome this challenge and was successful as well. Now, once again, the same guidelines need to be strictly implemented, especially in Raipur, Durg and Bemetara districts where the numbers of COVID positive patients are increasing continuously. In order to prevent the spread of COVID infection, instructions have been given to increase sample testing as well as pace up the contact tracing.
 
Singhdeo said that more oxygen equipped beds should be made available for the patients in Raipur district. He also inquired the Collector about the precautions and measures being taken in the district to control this situation. Also, proper monitoring of the patients in home isolation should be ensured. Singhdeo said that the vaccination campaign is being conducted efficiently and now Chhattisgarh has secured the fourth position in the country for operating session sites in government centres. After vaccination, people should be informed that even after one dose or both doses of the vaccine, it is necessary to wear a mask and follow other COVID appropriate behaviour, otherwise the vaccinated person can catch infection again and such infected person can become a carrier and infect others.
 
Agriculture Minister and Minister In-charge of Raipur district Ravindra Choubey appreciated all the departmental officers for working with dedication in this difficult situation. He said that the District Collector can utilise DMF and CSR items as per the requirement. He said that the COVID prevention guidelines should be followed more strictly in the containment zones and regular police patrolling should be ensured. People found without masks in public places should be fined at once. In the meeting, instructions were given to arrange for monitoring of home isolation and to take decisions regarding lockdown as per the circumstances. Important subjects such as vaccination through Mobile Medical Unit, vaccination of the target group, ensuring proper arrangement of Human Resources, how to control crowding and market situation, COVID appropriate behaviour, need for administration and police to take strict measures, need of taking care, taking help of NGOs, availability of test kits and vaccination for vaccines, ensuring necessary arrangements in the hospitals in rural areas were discussed and necessary instructions were given in the context.
 
In the meeting, Additional Chief Secretary Renu G Pillay informed that the department is making every possible effort to prevent COVID-19 infection. Districts have been instructed to increase the number of Covid tests and to pace up contact tracing. Director of National Health Mission Dr Priyanka Shukla gave information about beds available in the hospitals and the covid care centres of State. She informed that there are a total 4,051 beds in 33 dedicated Covid hospitals in State, which includes 1,341 beds with oxygen, 438 HDU and 440 ICU beds. The 65 Covid Care Centres in State have a total of 8,780 beds, including 1,087 beds with oxygen. In addition, there are 3,134 beds in 78 private hospitals, 1,052 beds with oxygen, 450 HDU beds and 720 ICU beds. Collector Dr S Bharati Dasan informed about all the activities being conducted by District Administration. He informed that 5 buildings have been acquired for converting them into isolation and Covid Care Centre. With acquisition of these buildings, the number of oxygenated beds in the district will also increase. He said that till now 28 containment zones have been declared in the district.