In a bid to contain the Covid-19 outbreak, the State Government is planning to set up an NDRF-like health disaster management facility.
A proposal has been made to establish the NDRF-type Health Disaster Management Training Centre to impart training to doctors, paramedics, nurses and health workers to face any kind of health crisis that might take place in near future, said Health and Family Welfare Minister Naba Kishore Das following an inter-Ministerial meeting here on Thursday.
“We stressed on setting up an immunity research centre to carry out study on taking preventive measures against the disease. Also, we discussed a proposal on establishing an industry to manufacture medical equipment to improve healthcare system in the State,” Das said.
He said Odisha has achieved the target in testing 1,000 samples a day for detection of virus in
people.
“A few days ago, we were testing 100 samples. Now we are testing 1,000-1,200 samples, a sharp increase in testing capacity. We have decided to expand the capacity to 2,000-3,000 samples a day,” he said.
Speaking on enhancing the sample testing capacity in western Odisha, he said that only one machine has been installed at VIMSAR in Burla to test COVID-19 samples. He has urged the NIT Director to instal two more testing machines so that 100 samples can be tested a day at the medical institution.
He sought permission from the Centre for sample testing in all the medical colleges across the State
Informing about a proposal for mass sample testing, he said, “We hope to implement a pool test for COVID-19 allowing expansion of the current screening capacity and detection of virus in the community.”