Bhubaneswar: Odisha is the only State in the country who is providing free of cost COVID-19 treatment to all, said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday.
“We are the only State in the Country who is providing everything free of cost’ to everyone – Universal free Coverage of all covid related expenses”, Naveen said in his address at the BJD legislature party meeting today.
He said, “Covid Pandemic in the last 6 months or so has changed the lives of people like never before. India is adding almost a lakh new cases every day and this is the highest addition in the world. India also has the second highest number of cases in the world. Country’s Economy has been hit very badly, registering -23% growth resulting in millions of job losses and lakhs of business closes. The country is going through a very tough phase”.
“With the support of people of Odisha and dedicated hard work of Covid Warriors, Odisha is putting a brave fight against Covid. We have one of the highest recovery rates in the country and Odisha saves maximum people in the country with low fatality rates”, the BJD supremo said.
He said, “We are the pioneering state to setup dedicated Covid hospitals, Temporary Medical Camps and empowered Gram Panchayats in playing a vital role in Covid management. From food in TMCs to accommodation, Testing, lodging, Transport, Treatment, Plasma Therapy everything is provided free of cost to covid patients in the State”.
The Chief Minister said that he had asked all his party members to actively mobilize blood plasma and help in dead body cremation through ‘Jeeban Bindu’ and Ódisha Mo Parivar Programs’.
He also urged the BJD MLAs to actively sensitize people on use of mask, hand washing, maintain social distance. For these the party will have a month long awareness campaign from October 2nd Gandhi Jayanti day following Covid guidelines, he added.
“We are proud of our frontline COVID warriors and those who have sacrificed their lives for the people of Odisha. They are dear to us and we salute their heroic deeds and selfless sacrifice”, he said.
The Chief Minister also thanked the 4.5 crore people of Odisha, those who have stood with us and showed great resilience in the face of this unprecedented pandemic.