Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today took stock of the Covid-19 situation in the state and urged the officials to take best care of everyone. He said that nobody should be deprived of the treatment for lack of money as everything is provided free by the government. He also appealed to all the people of the state to come forward voluntarily for testing and help the government in containing the coronavirus.
Detailed Speech of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik:
Odisha has been putting up a brave fight against COVID-19 in last five months and has seen good successes. This has been possible for the untiring efforts of all our frontline COVID warriors and people’s representatives. We have been dynamically assessing the situation and preparing advance plan for creating adequate infrastructure, procuring adequate testing kits and consumables. In the meanwhile, in a span of three weeks, we could establish five Plasma Therapy units from scratch. I appreciate the efforts the administration and doctors and all connected medical professionals of those Hospitals.
Hon’ble Ministers have been assigned responsibilities to motivate people on Plasma Donation. The concept of Plasma Donation must be popularised at all levels. To take our fight against COVID-19 to the next level, we have decided to substantially enhance the testing during the coming weeks. Happy to note that yesterday we have done about 32 thousand tests.
The Collectors are advised to lead the programme to conduct tests at sub-divisional hospitals and community health centres. BDOs and PRIs should play an active role in motivating people to voluntarily come forward for testing and further launch a campaign at local levels to destigmatize the COVID-19 positive persons.
Considering Global experiences as well as experiences from different states that home isolation provides better and early healing for asymptomatic and persons with mild symptoms, our Government has allowed home isolation as the preferred mode, both in urban and rural areas. Wherever, such persons who have no such facilities at home, they will be taken care of in the COVID Care Centre and Covid Care Homes.
Home Isolation must be promoted as a good practice. The fear for the disease and stigma around it must be removed from the minds of the people and communities so that more and more people would opt for home isolation.
A home isolation kit comprising dos and don’ts, few basic medicines and a list of telephone numbers of Doctors, Counsellors/Tele-medicine professionals and Government officials may be distributed among all such persons to enable them to call appropriate numbers regarding medical, psycho-social and other assistance if and when required.
An appealing and convincing IEC campaigns may be launched to prevent stigmatisation of the Covid positive persons in the community. I urge the Public Representatives and members of Panchayati Raj Institutions to carry the message to the people against such stigmatisation. Khordha, Cuttack, Jajpur and Sundargarh Districts need focus. With efforts of Covid warriors and our strategies, we are putting a good fight against the speed of the Pandemic. We have ramped of testing.
We have one of the highest recovery rates in the country and we have one of the lowest fatality rates in the country. We are one of the few states in the country who is providing universal care for Covid patients completely free of cost. From testing to treatment to food, transport, accommodation, everything is provided free of cost, and the objective is because of financial problem, nobody should suffer without being able to get treatment in Odisha. For me and my Government every life is precious and we should work towards saving more lives.
Bande Utkal Janani.
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