The BJP-led Government in Tripura is working on two fronts in the battle against second wave of Covid19 – arrangement of oxygen supply in case of medical emergency and augmenting number of doctors through urgent recruitment drives.
Besides, setting up of Covid care centre in districts to decentralize the treatment as well as increasing number of beds with oxygen facilities in Agartala. Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked to Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Friday and assured all sorts of help in managing Covid 2. Meanwhile, Deb is also visiting the Covid care centers and Oxygen plants and reviewing the preparedness.
The Chief Minister accompanied by officials concerned visited Bodhjungnagar Oxygen plant on Saturday.
After the visit, Deb said, “As of now, Tripura has sufficient stock of Oxygen. We have 4500 oxygen cylinders, 750 oxygen concentrators and more 700 A-type cylinders.”
Speaking to the Media, the Chief Minister also claimed that the state government had initiated plans to set up more oxygen plants. The oxygen support system in all district and sub-divisional hospitals had also improved, he added.
In the meantime, another consignment of 100 oxygen concentrators with accessories reached the state from Guwahati on Saturday.
A tweet from MBB Airport’s official handle said the oxygen concentrators were ferried from Guwahati by an Air Force flight- AN32 for the second consecutive day to boost the fight against COVID19.
The State Government is focusing on expanding the ambit treatment facilities at district and sub-division level. To this end, Government has already decided to doctors to ensure treatment facilities in Covid Hospitals and centres. He also reviewed Covid centres in North Tripura and Unakoti districts on Saturday.
During visits, Deb inspected the existing facilities as well as interacted with the local staff and officials. He was accompanied by Health officials.
Referring to shortage of doctors, Deb said the state government had already decided to recruit 164 doctors on regular pay scale through Tripura Public Service Commission and the notification was already issued in this regard.
The recruitment of the 164 doctors was approved by the council of ministers in an urgent meeting on Friday night.
Speaking to the media, Deb said the decentralization of Covid treatment system up to the district and sub-division level was visible now. It would ensure medical facilities to the COVID19 patients within their respective district, he said.
In the first wave, there was a rush of people in the city coming from other parts of the state. But, this time, the people were able to get the COVID treatment at their own district which indicated an improvement in the state's health infrastructure, he said, adding that Covid treatment facility along with ventilators now became available in every district and sub-division.
After visiting district hospital and RGM hospital in Unokoti district, Deb passed necessary instruction to the officials concerned for further improvement of healthcare infrastructure.
He also suggested that the people having mild symptoms should stay home and take advice from the health staff. He also advised the people to monitor their saturation level in oxymeters. He said a visit to the hospital or Covid Care centre is needed if the Oxygen saturation level comes down to 90.
At Panisagar under North Tripura District, Deb said, three Covid Care Centres were being set up in Regional Centre for Physical Education. Treatment of patients was already going on in a 120-bed centre while preparation for another centre having 152 beds was also completed. The third facility having 100 beds was nearing completion, he said, adding that the officials concerned were directed to ensure various facilities including oxygen support.
The Chief Minister also visited Dharmanagar district hospital and inspected the existing infrastructure. One 14-bed Covid Care Centre is functioning in the hospital. There are four ventilators.