Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday asserted that the demand for medical oxygen has been substantially increased during the second wave of Covid-19 in state and the State has not faced any problem with the supply of oxygen.
“In addition to meeting its own demand, Odisha has saved valuable lives by supplying oxygen to 17 states,” he said laying the foundation stone of seven Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) plants and seven Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) systems in seven districts of the state virtually.
The plants are to be set up at medical colleges located at Balasore, Koraput, Bolangir, Burla and Cuttack along with Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar and District Headquarters Hospital (DHH), Nabarangpur.
Patnaik also inaugurated an additional health service facility, dengue and diarrhea ward and blood separation unit in Balasore district. These projects have been established with help of the World Health Organization (WHO) and a center of excellence for the treatment of lung diseases in Cuttack and an RT-PCR test laboratory in Nabarangpur district.
A total of Rs 29.41 crore has been invested for creation of all these infrastructures..
‘It will definitely create a unique identity for Odisha and it is definitely a matter of self-satisfaction for every Odia as well,” the CM said.
Stating supply of oxygen to the patients is not an easy process, he said starting from the production of oxygen to make available it for the patients requires a lot of equipment, vehicles, constant monitoring and other systems.
“Here, in Odisha, we have strengthened our system by bringing oxygen cylinders from different parts of the country including China,” Naveen said.
“As no one can predict the future of Covid infection, the Chief Minister said, “We need to be prepared from now on,” and hoped that the new healthcare infrastructures inaugurated today would provide services to the people soon.
The Chief Minister thanked the corporate houses for their support in this regard. He further stated that Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) plants are being set up in all the major hospitals in the state.
Finally, the Chief Minister urged the people to remain cautious during the festivals like Raj and Sabitri and observe all the Covid norms.
Joining the event from Jharsuguda, Health Minister Naba Kishore Das said that Odisha has now become a ray of hope for the entire country in the field of medical oxygen supply. He hoped that with the launching of the new infrastructures, Odisha would successfully cope up with the third wave of Covid-19.
In his welcome address, Additional Chief Secretary, Health, PK Mohapatra said that RT-PCR test laboratories have now been set up in 17 districts of the State. He said such laboratories would be set up in all districts of the State.
Mission Shakti Minister Tukuni Sahoo, Managing Director of Odisha State Medical Corporation Ltd, Yamini Sadangi, Minister for Science and Technology Ashok Panda, Deputy Chief Whip, Nabarangpur MP, MLAs from Balasore, Koraput, Balangir, Cuttack- Choudwar, Nabarangpur, Chief Secretary and others attended the function from different districts which was coordinated by Secretary 5-T VK Pandian.