As the corona positive active cases are below 1,000 in Rayagada district, the district is considered as a green zone. The district reported 937 active cases on Tuesday last. “It is certainly a good news for Rayagada denizens. We are below the unlocking bench mark of Test Positivity Rate (TPR), which is 5%,” said trade unionist Jogesh Das. The vaccination drive has been accelerated under the leadership of CDM and PHO Dr Artabandhu Nayak being assisted by DPM Rajesh Pattanayak and APM Kiran Kumar Patra, other doctors and health staff. These health officials are overworking and under stress due to shortage of staffs.Though the neighbouring districts like Koraput has three Covid hospitals, Gajapati and Malkangiri are having two each Covid hospitals, but Rayagada has only one. This also has put pressure in delivering health services of minimum quality. There is a demand to establish one more Covid hospital as a joint social responsibility by the corporates like Utkal Alumina, JK Papers, IMFA and Vedanta. As the ensuing 3rd wave will affect more children and adolescents, a second Covid hospital is highly needed in Rayagada. After the pandemic, it may be converted to a general hospital cum medical college, which has been assured long back.
Fortunately enough, for Collector Saroj Kumar Mishra, SP Vivekananda Sharma, ADM Sarat Chandra Panda and PD-DRDA-cum-Nodal Officer, Covid-19, Maheswar Nayak, health of the people is top most priority. These officers have been very active in tirelessly complementing the efforts of health officials. Managing the vaccination drive for 18-44 years with a meticulous plan by these administrators has really helped in fruitful execution of the process.