Odisha trains 1.72 lakh health personnel to combat COVID-19 in state

Bhubaneswar, May 9 () The Odisha government hastrained 1.72 lakh health personnel to fight COVID-19 in thestate, where a spike in the number of positive cases wasrecently witnessed following the return of Odia migrantworkers from other parts of the country, a senior officialsaid.

The state government has trained 1,72,499 healthpersonnel to deal with the novel coronavirus outbreak, ChiefSecretary A K Tripathy said while launching the 'COVID-19workforce portal' here on Friday.

Altogether 129 fresh novel coronavirus cases werereported in the state since May 3, when the return of thestranded migrant workers began. Of these, around 114 COVID-19patients are returnees who were stranded in Gujarat, a healthofficial said.

A total of 8,023 doctors, 8,296 staff nurses, 4,105paramedical staff and laboratory technicians, 4,114 AYUSHdoctors, 4,905 ambulance drivers, 1,35,820 ANM/ASHA/AWWworkers and 7,236 sanitation workers have been drafted intothe COVID-19 workforce, Labour and ESI Secretary Anu Gargsaid.

Also, 108 doctors, 64 staff nurses and 61 pharmacistsfrom ESI and private sector hospitals have been trained inCOVID-19 management, she said.

Health and Family Welfare Secretary N B Dhal said that8,325 MBBS, AYUSH and nursing students, who had volunteeredfor COVID-19 duty, have been trained in providing care to thepatients.

Garg, also the chairperson of HR and capacity-buildingcommittee for COVID-19, said 33,900 functionaries of temporarymedical camps set up in different panchayat areas for thereturning stranded migrants have been trained in health,nutrition, water and sanitation management in the facilities.

The people in charge of the temporary camps have alsobeen trained in providing care to children and women andtraumatised returnees, she said.

Around 753 counsellors have been trained to providepsycho-social support to the patients and their families, theofficial said.

The Odisha Disaster Management Authority, incoordination with the UNFPA and the UNICEF, has also trained2,471 volunteers to provide assistance in COVID-19 management,she said.

"The training has instilled confidence among thedoctors, paramedical personnel and support staff. They areready to face any situation," the state government's trainingcoordinator for COVID-19, Dr Jayanta Panda of the SCB MedicalCollege, said. AAMACD ACD