NTPC Ltd, India’s largest power producer, has stepped up its vigil against global pandemic of COVID-19 by converting its hospitals into dedicated Coronavirus units.
R K Singh, Minister of State (I/c) of Power, New and Renewable Energy and Minister of State of Skill Development, has decided to utilise NTPC’s 45 hospitals and healthcare units to make isolation facilities and procured requisite number of equipment for the medical staff to handle such cases effectively.
As many as 121 beds, with all facilities, have been turned into isolation wards in these hospitals. The key medical infrastructure is been provided by state governments to tackle COVID-19 cases, including the hospital at Badarpur in Delhi and the medical college hospital of Sundergarh in Odisha. Korba Hospital is also being examined to be taken over by the state government.
The medical staff has also been trained over video calls about the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Mock drills are getting conducted at all hospitals as per MOHFW guidelines. Furthermore, 1,160 PPEs, 30,000 masks and 30,000 gloves have been dispatched to all the projects and stations.
A total of eight ventilators are being procured at Hazaribagh for district administration. Additionally, there are 18 Advanced Level Ambulances (ALAs) with ventilators.
It has contributed funds to the district administration of NTECL Vallur for procuring 1,000 bedsheets for a hospital.
At NTPC Bhilai, funds have been reserved for support to the district hospitals to provide foods to nearby localities through NGOs and also for providing essential medicine in Primary Health Cares (PHCs).
Similarly, NTPC Rihand has assured adequate funds for distribution of sanitisers and other protective equipment.
The requirement of contractor workers has also been rationalised at NTPC projects stations in accordance with the GOI guidelines. The agencies have been asked to treat the workers’ absence in these extraordinary circumstances as on duty. As far as wages are concerned, there will be no hindrance and they will be given timely. In some cases, including advances have already been given.
Accommodation, food and medical facilities for the contractor workers have also been arranged at many of NTPC’s project stations.