COVID-19 hospital becomes operational in Odisha's Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar, Apr 6 () A new dedicated hospitalexclusively for COVID-19 patients became functional here onMonday as Odisha raced ahead in its preparedness to providetreatment facilities to people afflicted with the disease,officials said.

The state government's third dedicated hospital forCOVID-19 patients, with 525 beds, will be managed by SUMMedical College and Hospital, and supported by MahanadiCoalfields Ltd (MCL).

With this, the bed capacity of dedicated hospitals forCOVID-19 patients in Odisha has increased to 1,350, they said.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who interacted withdoctors and healthcare workers of the hospital through videoconferencing, appreciated their commitment to serve peopleduring this global pandemic.

Patnaik also thanked Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi andDharmendra Pradhan for their support and the MCL forsponsoring this facility.

Union Petroleum and Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhanappreciated the initiatives taken by the Odisha government inits fight against coronavirus breakout and also called uponall, cutting across caste, creed and party line, to follow theadvice of the Centre and the state government.

Union Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshiindicated about establishment of more such hospitals in Odishain cooperation with PSUs under the mines ministry, officialssaid.

Odisha has been a pioneer in COVID-19 preparednessever since the chief minister launched a Wash-Your-Handcampaign along with Assembly Speaker, Opposition leaders,ministers and MLAs, an official said.

Social distancing, hand washing and all other normslaid down by the World health Otganization (WHO) had beenbrought into practice much earlier in the state, he said.

Two other hospitals for COVID-19 patients have beenkept ready to meet any challenge that might come in future.

Of the two facilities, one has been developed by theKIMS in Bhubaneswar and the other is Ashwini Hospital inCuttack with a facility of 125 beds.

This apart, the district administration of Sundergarhhas established a 200-bed dedicated COVID-19 hospital atRourkela in collaboration with Hitech Medical College andHospital.

Two more dedicated hospitals for those infected withcoronavirus will be built by the state government in Angul andKendrapara in collaboration with a private hospital.

In addition, Odisha government has started work toset up 4 lakh isolation bed facilities in over 7,000 grampanchayats. SKNMM MM