Bhubaneswar : Odisha government has asked the district collectors to remain prepared to counter the third phase of covid pandemic.
Health and Family Welfare Additional Chief Secretary P K Mohapatra in a letter asked all the District Collectors and Magistrates to implement a series of guidelines approved under Emergency Covid Response Plan 2021-22 in a time bound manner to strengthen the public health facilities to cater to any similar outbreaks in future.
The Odisha government apprehended that the state might report more than 19,000 covid positive cases during the peak period of the possible third wave of the covid pandemic.
The Union government has provided Rs 800 crore under the scheme to combat the pandemic.
Mr Mohapatra said the third wave is expected to prevail for 75 days and the number of Covid
Positive cases during the peak period of the third wave is expected to be 1.5 times more than
the cases reported during the peak times in the second wave.
He said in total 5,21,750 Covid cases were reported during the second surge which lasted from
April 1 to June 15 last and the average cases per day was 6865. The highest number of 12,852
cases were reported on May 22,2021.
But during the third wave the total number of cases may reach 19,278 and the average expected cases per day is expected to reach 10,217 .
Similarly, the total number of cases is expected to be around 7,66,275 during the 75 day of the
third wave.
Under the ECRP Phase-II package 2021-22, Odisha government has approved Rs 94.93 crore for the procurement of RT-PCR and Rapid Antigen Test Kits, Rs 5 .84 crore for establishment of 16 new RT PCR laboratories at District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) level, Rs 30 crore for buying essential Drugs for Covid Management, Rs 75.18 crore for establishment of dedicated Paediatric Care Unit in
all DHHs, Rs 5 crore for establishment of Pediatric Centre of excellence at Medical Colleges, State Hospital, and Central Government Hospital.
Similarly, Rs 139 crore has been approved for creation of additional beds for covid care in 245 Community Health Centres (CHC) and 551 Primary Health Centres (PHC) Rs 124.69 crore for
creation of 740 ICU beds for public healthcare facilities with focus on paediatric care.
The government has also approved Rs 176 crore for 28 field hospitals at selected DHHs,
The State government has approved Rs 24.67 crore for paying monthly honorarium to Medical
PG Residents, Medical UG interns, Final Year MBBS students, Final Year GNM Nursing students
and Final Year BSc. Nursing students.
Funds have also been approved for providing support to DHHs for implementing CDAC
supported HMIS modules in District Hospitals and to strengthen telemedicine and
tele-consultation services and for training and capacity building of healthcare service providers.
Major activities approved under ECRP Phase-II are as follows:
- COVID essential diagnostics (Provision of Rapid Antigen & RT-PCR Test kits & establishment of RT-PCR Labs) and drugs (8 types of essential drugs).
- Establishment of Dedicated Pediatric Care Units (20/ 30 bedded Oxygen supported wards & 12 bedded Hybrid ICU).
- Establishment of Prefab units at PHC (6 bedded) & CHC (20 bedded) level.
- Provision of additional ICU Beds in existing lCUs.
- Establishment of 50 bedded field hospitals at selected DHH/ SDH/ CHC level.
- Upgrading BLS to ALS Ambulance for augmenting the capacity of referral transportation services.
- Support for establishment Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) & Medical Gas Pipeline System (MGPS).
- Provision for engagement of additional Human Resources (i.e. Medical PG Residents, Medical UG interns, Final Year MBBS students, Final Year GNM Nursing students & Final Year BSc. Nursing students only).
- Strengthening implementation of e-HMIS at DHH level through the support of OCAC & CDAC.
- Strengthening Hub (MCHs), Sub-Hub (DHHs) & Spokes (COVID Care Centers) for teleconsultation services in the State.
- Capacity building for strengthening COVID management services, wherever required.
