Also launches e-Sanjeevani OPD to connect with AIIMS Bilaspur for online consultation
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur launched Home Isolation Kit for Covid-19 patients in home isolation from Peterhof, Shimla today. He also launched Himachal Covid Care Application and e-Sanjeevani OPD to connect people with AIIMS, Bilaspur for online consultation and treatment. He also flagged off 11 vehicles to different parts of the State carrying Home Isolation Kits.
Speaking on the occasion Jai Ram Thakur said that these kits would be provided to the Covid-19 patients in home isolation by concerned MLAs. He urged the elected representatives to ensure that the kits were made available to the patients at the earliest.
Jai Ram Thakur said that e-Sanjeevani OPD would ensure effective communication between the patients and physicians and enable them to get proper advice from the specialists. He said that the Covid Care App would provide an effective mechanism for monitoring the patients in home isolation.
Chief Minister said that State today was passing through a critical situation due to Corona pandemic. He said that the State Government has expedited testing in the State to ensure early detection of Covid-19 patients to ensure their timely treatment. He said that over 18 lakh tests have been conducted in the State till now and about 1,75,000 persons had been tested Covid-19 positive. He said that 2638 people had lost their lives due to Corona virus. He said that at present, eight RT-PCR, 25 TRUNAAT and two CBNAAT laboratories were conducting tests for this virus in the State.
Jai Ram Thakur said that the second wave of the Corona pandemic was more fatal and cases were also increasing at a fast pace. He said that the positivity rate during the first phase was 5.53 whereas in the second wave it has increased to 15.67 per cent. He said that to cope up with this situation, the State Government has strived hard for capacity enhancement. He said that the bed capacity in the State had been increased from existing 1200 to about 5000 beds. He said that similarly the State had increased the storage capacity of oxygen by 25 MT.
Chief Minister said that with the liberal assistance from the Centre Government today the State had about 6300 D-Type and 2250 B-Type oxygen cylinders. He said that over 1700 oxygen concentrators have been made available in the health institutions. He said that all the medical colleges have PSA Oxygen Plants. He said that six PSA plants have started functioning in the State whereas two additional PSA plants would be made functional very soon. He said that about year ago the State had only 50 functional ventilators and now the number has been increased to about 700 ventilators.
Jai Ram Thakur said that as many as 3100 fresh recruitments have been made in Health department to ensure adequate manpower in the health institutions for proper treatment of the patients. He said that State Government has also taken up the matter with the Central Government to enhance oxygen quota for the State by 10 MT. He said that Himachal Pradesh was one of the first States in the country which has ensured zero percent wastage of vaccine. He said that about 22.52 lakh vaccines had been administered to the people of the State and the State Government has put an order of 72 lakh vaccines before Serum Institute of India.
Chief Minister said that the State Government was also planning to start a special campaign to identify patients particularly in rural areas having symptoms of ILI so that they could be tested at the earliest. He urged the MLAs, representatives of PRIs and ULBs, ASHA workers and other health functionaries to come forward to identify such patients. He said that the State Government would also honour the panchayats performing well in implementation of this drive. He said that this would not only ensure early detection of Covid cases but also check spread of the virus.
Jai Ram Thakur said that the State Government has decided to provide Rs. 2500 per month per child to such children whose both parents have died due to Corona virus. He said that the State Government would also bear the expenditure on studies of these children. He said that Government had also decided to bear the expenditure on transporting the body of corona deceased to their native places besides providing free wood for cremation.
Chief Minister also thanked the Corona warriors like doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, sanitary workers for their valuable services. He also appreciated the assistance provided by the various social, religious and other organizations to the State Government for combating the situation. He specially thanked Radha Swami Satsang Beas for providing their complexes at Mandi, Paraur and Solan where additional bed capacity of about 700 beds were created for treatment of Corona patients.
Union Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs Anurag Singh Thakur, while appreciating the frontline workers in fighting the Corona virus, said that it was due to their efforts that country and the State was successfully fighting the Covid situation. He said that the Union Government has made a provision of Rs. 26000 crore for providing free ration to about 80 crore people to facilitate the poor. He said that about 216 crore vaccine Vial would be made available to the people of the country by end of this year. He said that India has provided life saving drugs to about 195 countries during the first phase of the pandemic.
Urban Development Minister Suresh Bhardwaj said that under the able leadership of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur the State was effectively fighting the pandemic. He said that sound infrastructure have been ensured to cater to the needs of the patients. He also urged the elected representatives of PRIs and ULBs to ensure effective monitoring of patients in home isolation.
Health Minister Dr. Rajiv Saizal welcomed the Chief Minister and said that in spite of limited sources, the State has effectively managed the pandemic as compared to the neighbouring States. He also felt the need for greater coordination between various sections of the society for tackling this situation.
Secretary Health Amitabh Awasthi made a presentation on Covid situation and progress in vaccination campaign in the State.
Former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, Ministers, Members of Parliament, MLAs, elected representatives of PRIs, ULBs, SHGs, Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of various boards and corporations and other leaders joined the event virtually whereas Political Advisor to Chief Minister Trilok Jamwal was also present at Shimla with Chief Minister.
