Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday said the infrastructure and facilities are being improved in Odisha for Covid treatment.
However, a shortage of doctors and technicians still poses a significant threat in the district. Hence, it is necessary to open more medical colleges to strengthen the health infrastructure in the State.
Pradhan spoke at a programme organised by the Odisha State Marwari Yuva Manch (OSMYM), where he dedicated 100 jumbo oxygen cylinders to OSMYM for Covid patients. The GAIL India had sponsored the cylinders.
Pradhan highlighted that while, on an average, there's one doctor for every 1,404 citizens nationwide, for Odisha, the number is about 2,187 citizens. He added that there are 139 beds for every 1 lakh citizen nationwide; in Odisha, this number is only 59.
He said that, in this situation, the only logical step is to set up new medical colleges and increase the number of seats in medical colleges along with the number of nursing, paramedical staff, ventilator technicians, and health workers. Pradhan also said that while Central and State Government are cooperating fully in breaking the chain of corona transmission in western Odisha and Jharsuguda district, all members of the society should also join hands together to achieve the same goal.
Pradhan heaped praise on Odisha State Marwari Manch for its charitable initiatives like supplying food to covid patients, organising plasma donation drives, and arranging ambulances and oxygen cylinders for patients. He said that these measures would help in saving many lives.
Joining the virtual programme as guest of honour, Jharsuguda MLA and State Health Minister Naba Kishore Das lauded the efforts of the Marwari Youth Forum and said that the steps taken by CM Naveen Patnaik in fighting during second wave of pandemic in the State are being admired both inside and outside the country.
He said that the Chief Minister has ensured the availability of oxygen cylinders in the State and also sent sufficient cylinders to other States in need. Bargarh MP Suresh Pujari, Brajrajnagar MLA Kishore Kumar Mohanty,national president of AIMYM Kapil Lakhotia, State president OPMYM Naresh Agarwal, general secretary Bhawant Agarwal and vice president Rajiv Sharma also attended the programme.