Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has made a number of important announcements at an all-party meeting chaired by Speaker OLA today to further strengthen our fight against COVID-19 with the cooperation of all.
Chief Minister Mr. Patnaik said that infections have been on the rise in Odisha for more than a month. With the blessings of the Lord, we have been working to keep the situation under control and to provide care to the sick. The Chief Minister lauded them saying that administration and health workers have been working 24×7.
The Chief Minister said that State is closely monitoring the situation in other parts of the country and is taking precautionary measures based on their experience.
The health care infrastructure has been strengthened and ICU-HDU beds have been expanded. Oxygen-covered beds are also provided in each district, Chief Minister informed.
More oxygen cylinders, refilling and transportation are being monitored to ensure flawless oxygen supply. Oxygen cylinders are also being imported along with the establishment of oxygen plants in the main hospitals. “We are taking special care to ensure that there is no shortage of essential medicines and oxygen,” he said.
In addition to meeting the needs of its state, Odisha today can save a lot of precious lives by supplying oxygen to other states as well. It is a matter of pride for Odisha.
The Chief Minister also announced the formation of a task force to strengthen the oxygen management system in the state and which will prepare a master plan for it.
The fight is one of the most important for health workers and doctors, with doctors and paramedical staff recruited. Steps have also been taken for contract doctors and health workers.
The Chief Minister said that free medical examinations and free medical care were provided to the people in Odisha. Covid patients are being treated with private hospitals. “As a result, patients are receiving immediate medical attention and the death toll in Odisha is low,” he said.
He warned the people that there could be more waves of COVID. So we have to be ready for a long battle. “Vaccination will be our main strategy for a successful fight against corona,” CM said.
We have started the process of buying vaccines from the world market so that our people can get vaccinations as soon as possible. Mr. Patnaik informed about the formation of a high-level technical committee to guide State in the fight against COVID-19.
Describing the community as the main pillar in the management of COVID, the Chief Minister said that from the very beginning, the Gram Panchayat and the Village Welfare Committee had been involved. He said the Asha, Anganwadi workers and Mission Shakti groups are working together to provide services to the people.
For the next three months from 28 May, Asha and ANMs across the state will be conducting door-to-door surveys on cough symptoms and complications. The Chief Minister had announced that they would be given an incentive of Rs 1,000 per month for three months.
The chief minister said sarpanches could exercise their district magistrate powers to implement the lockdown and open TMC in the village depending on the needs of the village. Although the number of people returning to other states this year is lower than last year, the government has already started zonal TMC.
The Chief Minister also announced that free education would be provided to the children and widows of the families of the deceased and the parents of the deceased who would be included in the Madhubabu Pension Scheme.
“We are now in the second wave of Covid,” he said. No one knows how many waves we will have to deal with in the future.
We are in a state of shock to reduce the impact of the second wave. But Lockdown alone is not the answer. Because of this, the livelihoods of many people are being severely affected. It’s a long battle. He emphasized the need to focus on the need to educate the public, and to adhere to the rules of wearing a mask, washing hands and maintaining social distance, not walking around unnecessarily and not going to the crowd.
“It’s our main weapon in preventing the virus,” he said.
The Chief Minister, therefore, advised the legislators to convey this message of awareness to the people and also to spend Rs 5 lakh from the MLALAD Fund on the management of Covid, especially from Mission Shakti Group and to distribute masks to the poor.
The Chief Minister said that in the past, Odisha had faced many challenges and that with the cooperation of all, State would be successful in the fight against COVID.
As legislators mingle with many people every day, the chief minister advised them to take care of themselves and their families.
” Every life is precious’. “We are working on this policy and the government will continue its efforts to save people’s lives,” he said.
On the occasion, Speaker Surya Narayan Patra administered the oath to the MLAs to work towards preventing COVID infections. Legislators also presented their views.