CM reviews Covid-19 situation in Kangra District at Dharamsala 

Dharamsala: Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today while reviewing Covid-19 situation in Kangra district at Dharamshala expressed concern over the increase in number of Covid related deaths in the district and felt need for ensuring that the serious patients be shifted to health institutions immediately from home isolation so that proper treatment could be made available to them. The Chief Minister said, “ The State Government had increased the bed capacity from existing1500 to about 5000 to cater to the demands of Covid patients in the State. On The request of the State Government the Central Government has also increased the quota of oxygen from 15 MT to 30 MT. The State Government has also urged the Government of India to further enhance the oxygen quota for the State by 10 MT.” 

Jai Ram Thakur said that keeping in view the gravity of the situation, the State Government was also increasing ICU beds in the health institutions of the State. He said that 20 additional ventilators have been provided for Dr.Rajendra Prasad Medical College, Tanda near Dharamsala and 25 additional ventilators for IGMC, Shimla. He said that arrangements have been made to ensure adequate supply of oxygen in Civil Hospital, Nurpur.

The Chief Minister said that in order to ensure adequate staff in the health institutions, the State Government has recruited about 3000 employees on an outsourced basis to cater to the health requirements of the people. He said that efforts were also on to make fresh appointments in health institutions.  He said that the State Government has also issued SOPs for dead body management of Covid patients.

He said that the Government has also decided to provide financial assistance to next of kin of the corona deceased to carry the dead body to their native places if they wish to do so. Jai Ram Thakur instructed the officials, “efforts must be made to strengthen the home isolation mechanism as about 90 percent of the total Covid patients are in home isolation.  Elected representatives such as MLAs, Pradhans, BDC members, Zila Parishad members and ward members must actively participate in strengthening the home isolation mechanism by keeping in touch with the family members of the corona patients. Usually the delay in shifting the corona patients from home isolation hospitals results in health deterioration of corona patients. paramedical staff must also regularly monitor the health parameters of the home isolation patients.”

The Chief Minister also launched the Home Isolation Kit 'Sanjeevni' developed by the administration of  district Kangra for the patients under home isolation in the district. He said that the kit would be provided to every patient in home isolation. He said that this kit would help the patients in speedy recovery from coronavirus. 

JaiRam Thakur also interacted through video conferencing with Covid patients admitted in Zonal Hospital Dharamsala and Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda. Besides inquiring about their health, he also enquired about the treatment and quality of service being provided to them in the hospital. The Chief Minister also took stock of the progress of Makeshift Covid Hospital, of 2500beds in Paraur near Dharamsala through video conferencing and directed the executing agency to complete this at the earliest. He was apprised that this Makeshift Hospital would be completed within 2-3 days. Jai Ram Thakur said that Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) Ward had been started at Ayurvedic Hospital Dehra in Kangra district to cater to the health problem of the people of the area. He said that a similar ward has already been made functional at Palampur a few days ago. Deputy Commissioner Kangra, Rakesh Prajapati informed”, In Kangra district, now the relevant person will get the report of Covid test within  48 hours. The report of all previous test samples in Kangra district has also been released and the process of preparing the report of the sample has been expedited by the Health Department.”

Kangra district is the highly affected district in Himachal.  The Deputy Commissioner said that arrangements were made to deliver the report of the samples of the Covid test to the people without delay so that there is no confusion in the public. Prajapati said that the testing facility in Kangra District has also been expanded to prevent the spread of Covid infection and proper treatment of the covid infected can be done on time. DeputyCommissioner Rakesh Prajapati said that in March 2021, a total of 29682 samples were taken, in which the testing rate was 18 per one thousand, while in April,52347 samples were taken in which the testing rate was 31 per one thousand and so far in this month 59418 Samples have been taken and testing rate has been increased to 37 per thousand. Hesaid, “People are also being motivated to get tested in case of symptoms of cough, fever etc. so that corona infection can be detected in the initial stage and treatment of Covid patients can be started at the right time.” 

Deputy Commissioner said that in the last one year, four lakh ten thousand 649 Covid samples have been taken in the district. Secretary Health Amitabh Awasthi joined the event virtually from Shimla. Speaker Vidhan Sabha Vipin Parmar, Health Minister Dr. Rajiv Saizal, Members of Parliament Kishan Kapoor and Indu Goswami, Deputy Chairman State Planning Board Ramesh Dhawala, MLAs Arun Mehra, Arjun Singh, Rita Dhiman, Mulkh Raj Premi and Vishal Nehriya and other officers attended the meeting among others.