Preparing for 3rd wave, govt sets up paediatric Covid ward in Ludhiana
Chandigarh, June 2
Preparing the state for a possible third wave of the pandemic, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Wednesday virtually inaugurated a 50-bed Paediatric Covid Care Ward, set up at CMC Hospital, Ludhiana, as a partnership initiative between the hospital and the Police Public Foundation (PPF).
On the occasion, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was also signed for setting up two oxygen plants in the district, for which 20 industries have donated Rs 1.2 crore. The two plants will become functional at the CMC, Ludhiana, and Krishna Charitable Hospital within six-eight weeks, according to CII past president Rahul Ahuja, who signed the MoU on behalf of the industry with the two hospitals. Under the agreement, 20 per cent of oxygen treatment would be subsidised for poor patients.
Terming the collaborative initiatives of the state’s industry, civil society and the police as a wonderful gesture, the Chief Minister said the pandemic was a major challenge and the state had to be prepared for the worst. “Though nobody knows yet if there will be a third wave in India, Punjab is making all efforts to gear up for another possible surge, which could affect the children more,” he added.
Children have to be protected
Though nobody knows if there will be a third wave in India, Punjab is making all efforts to gear up for another possible surge, which can affect the children more. —Capt Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister
Captain Amarinder urged the industry to motivate their employees to get vaccinated. Lauding the industry’s stellar role in supporting the state government’s fight against the pandemic, the Chief Minister said the industry in Punjab had always been at the helm of extending a helping hand in every crisis. The Vardhman and Oswal industries had helped with oxygen supplies when cases were at the peak at around 9,500 plus a day, he recalled.
The Chief Minister congratulated the Punjab Police Fund for the new Covid ward, for which it has provided financial assistance for medical infrastructure, as per the MoU signed by it with CMC Hospital. The hospital has provided space, manpower services, administrative & technical support for setting up of the ward, which is a Level-2 facility. Patients in this ward will be provided treatment at concessional rates, with 20 per cent of the beds have been reserved for the poor and needy patients. The ward is fully functional, and equipped with all the necessary infrastructure – patient beds, cardiac monitors, oxygen concentrators and UPS system. The ward has been completed within a month of signing of the MoU.
CMC Director William Bhatti thanked the Ludhiana citizens for once again coming out to help in these testing times, while Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan said the public and industry support had proved a major asset in the fight against Covid. — TNS
