Odisha: Health Facilities Urged to Remain in Readiness to Manage COVID-19 Cases

Bhubaneswar: In view of increasing number of COVID-19 cases, the Odisha Government has asked the health facilities to remain in readiness to manage COVID-19 cases requiring hospitalization.

The Directorate of Public Health wrote a letter to Director of Capital Hospital Bhubaneswar, Director of RGH Rourkela, all Chief District Medical & Public Health Officers and Superintendents of all Govt MCHs to remain prepared to manage any COVID cases requiring related hospitalizations.

Here are the guidelines issued by the Directorate of Public Health:

1. SCBMCH, Cuttack / MKCGMCH, Berhampur / V1MSAR, Burla / SLNMCH, Koraput have to earmark atleast 20 beds for COVID-19 with atleast two ICU beds

2. All DHH & collocated Medical Colleges have to earmark at least 10 beds as isolation COVID facility with standby beds to increase capacity if required. All prefab newly constructed COVID emergency block to be kept in readiness with all logistics

3. All CHC having prefab structure has to earmark six beds in it for COVID cases

4. All above COVID facilities has to be managed with existing manpower

5. Oxygen concentrators, Oxygen cylinders, LMO, PSA are to be kept in readiness and working order.

6. A contingency plan is to be prepared for any eventual rise in cases to be handled in each facility.

7. The fever clinic along with walk in COVID testing facility has to be in place in all Medical Colleges, DHHs, SDHs & CHCs

8. Mock drill to be carried out on 10th & 11th April 2023 to take a stock of hospital preparedness including essential drugs, beds, including ICU beds, medical equipment, medical oxygen, capacity building of human resources on existing guidelines as well as vaccination coverage and report compliance. A report attached to COVID-19 India portal has to be filled up by DSO and to be submitted on the same evening.