Naveen Reviews Covid Situation: Focus Now On Pediatric Healthcare, 1114 Doctors To Be trained

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today reviewed the Covid-19 situation in the state and advised the authorities to be ready to fight the third wave of the pandemic.

In today’s review meeting, Naveen stressed on the healthcare of the children. For this, he has instructed the officials to ramp up the pediatric healthcare facilities in the state. A decision was taken in the review meeting to train about 1114 doctors and 1036 staff nurses for pediatric care by the Covid-19 Capacity Building Team in the state.

Presently, there are 454 specialists and 96 PG Students are there in the state specializing in pediatrics care.

The Chief Minister also directed the authorities to increase the number of vaccinations in the state to more than three lakhs per day. Naveen also said that the government is actively considering to initiate unlockdown process in districts where the infection numbers are declining.

While the Chief Minister heaved a shy of relief for the declining Positivity Rate in the state, he also hoped that further improvement will be there in the next few weeks. He instructed the officials to give special focus on districts that still have high positivity rate. He stressed on better monitoring of the door to door survey being conducted in the state so that symptomatic patients are treated immediately.

He said, though there is an improvement in the situation, still we are not totally free from the second wave. We have to be extra cautious as a number of festivals are there in the coming days. He instructed the administration to more strictly implement the Covid Guidelines in the state.

While the experts are of the opinion that children are getting more affected by the third wave of the pandemic, he advised all to remain ready for it. He also advised the officials to make special efforts for developing Covid healthcare facilities for children and keep adequate required equipments and medicines. He also instructed for special training of doctors and healthcare workers for pediatric treatment.

While Naveen showed concern for the increasing number of Black Fungus cases in the state, he stressed on the procurement of medicines needed for its treatment. The Chief Minister said that the supply of oxygen in the state was satisfactory and that the availability of cylinders has improved.

Speaking at the meeting, Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra said it was reassuring that there was no increase in Covid infections in the storm-affected areas. He also said that the pressure on ICU and oxygen beds has gone down due to the low positivity rate in the state. He hoped that the infection rate will drop to 5 percent soon.

Giving a detailed account of the Covid situation in the state, PK Mohapatra, ACS, Health and Family Welfare, said that 86 percent Covid patients are in home isolation and 68 percent of beds are free in various healthcare facilities. The state has all the necessary medicines and sufficient supply of oxygen. He said that, as directed by the Chief Minister, 1,114 doctors and 1,036 health workers from health centers and medical colleges will be trained for child healthcare. He also said that 3,000 beds, 2,360 isolation beds and 410 ICU beds have been set up to deal with the third wave. In addition, the fourth sero which is going to be undertaken in mid-June in Ganjam, Koraput and Rayagada districts will collect special information about children.

During the review meeting, the Chief Minister also interacted about the Covid situation with the Collectors of Rayagada, Jajpur, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts and Bhubaneswar and Cuttack Municipal Commissioners. Till date, 83 lakh 62 thousand 105 doses of vaccines have been administered in the state and Capital Bhubaneswar is in the forefront. It was also informed that by July 15th, two doses for all persons in the 45 plus category will be complete and all persons belonging to the 18 plus category will be given the first dose vaccine. The review meeting was coordinated by 5T Secretary V K Pandian and others present on the occasion include the Development Commissioner, DG Police, DG Fire Services, Collectors and SPs of various districts.