Over 74 lakh doses have been administered in HP: CM

Dharamsala: CM HP Jai Ram thakur while  addressing a video conference organized at Civil Hospital, Palampur on Monday, said that Himachal Pradesh has  successfully vaccinate its 100 percent eligible population over 18 year age group and has taken a lead in the country, over 74 lakh doses have been administered to the people including first and second dose so far. Today, there are only 1,500 active cases in the State as the State Government has been working 24X7 to overcome the threat of Corona. Earlier, the state had only 11 Dedicated Corona Health Centres with 440 beds and 32 ICU facilities. Today, the State has 80 such centres with 8,765 beds having 880 ICU beds, which can be enhanced up to 11,000 if required.
 
 Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur earlier  dedicated the newly installed PSA Oxygen Plant at Civil Hospital, Palampur under PM Care Fund which would support 100 beds. This plant has been built at a cost of Rs.2 crore. He   also dedicated the augmented PSA Oxygen plant at Zonal Hospital, Dharamshala, built at a cost of Rs. 1.5 crore through video conference. This Oxygen Plant already functioning at Zonal Hospital, Dharamshala since March this year with a capacity of 300 LPM has been upgraded to 800 LPM recently under CSR. It would support the 175 oxygen supported indoor block of the Zonal Hospital. He also dedicated the newly established PSA Oxygen plants at Una, DCHC, Haroli and Palakwah in Una district through video conference. PSA Oxygen Plant at DCHC, Palakwah was donated by Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Singh Thakur would support 34 beds and DCHC, Haroli donated by M/S Nestle India Private Limited would support 50 beds, with capacity of 500 LPM each, have been set up at a cost of Rs.1.5 crore respectively. PSA Oxygen plant at Zonal Hospital, Una with capacity of 1,000 LPM installed under PM Care Funds and has been set up at a cost of Rs.2 crore which would support 144 beds.
 
 Taking a dig at the Opposition, CM said, “ opposition  believed in criticism only as it had been forgetting the state of the health sector during its various regimes extending over 50 years. There were only two Oxygen plants in the State at IGMC, Shimla and Rajendra Prasad Medical College, Tanda. But, today Himachal has raised its guard against this deadly virus and has over 2,200 oxygen concentrators at various health institutions in the State.”  
 
The Chief Minister thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Govt. for extending all possible help to the State in the fight against Corona. He said that the task of achieving cent percent vaccination was not easy keeping in view the topography of the State. “Lahaul and Spiti was the first district in the State in achieving 100 percent first dose  of  vaccination followed by Kinnaur District .The State Government made special arrangements for vaccination at the remote area  Bara Bhangal by sending a medical team there in choppers. Malana is another difficult terrain, where special arrangements were made.”  He thanked the Corona Warriors for rendering yeoman services during this critical period.
 
Health Minister Dr. Rajiv Saizal said that the State under the stewardship of Jai Ram Thakur is forwarding leaps and bounds. The State has achieved 100 percent vaccination in the age group over 18 years and is leading the country at present. He congratulated the Chief Minister for enabling the State to cope with the third possible Corona wave. He also felicitated the persons from health sectors and other fields, who are fighting day and night to keep the public safe from the clutches of deadly Coronavirus.  
 
Secretary Health Amitabh Awasthi while welcoming the dignitaries made two presentations consisting of newly PSA Oxygen plants installed in Kangra and Una districts and steps taken by the State Government to overcome the Covid-19 threat.
 
Earlier, Chairman, HP Wool Federation Trilok Kapoor Rural Development Minister Virender Kanwar,  MLAs Vishal Nehria, Arun Kuka and Mulkh Raj Premi, Chief Secretary Ram Subhag Singh, Chairman, former MP Kripal Parmar and MLA Praveen Sharma, Vice Chairman HP State Industrial Development Corporation, Prof. Ram Kumar, Chairman APMC Balbir Bagga, Deputy Commissioner Kangra Dr. Nipun Jindal and Deputy Commissioner Una Raghav Sharma, Superintendent of Police Kangra Khushal Sharma and Superintendent of Police Una Arjit Sen, CMO, Kangra Dr. G.D. Gupta and CMO Una Dr. Raman Sharma, PRI representatives, BJP office bearers and other senior officers were present on the occasion.