COVID Preparedness: Railway Minister Asks Divisional Heads To Keep Hospital Infra Ready

Bhubaneswar: With a surge in COVID cases across the country, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw directed the senior officials of various Railway zones and divisions to facilitate use of Railway hospitals and health infrastructure for general public.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Railway Board, VK Tripathi,  Board Members and senior officials of the Ministry of Railways along with General Managers (GMs) and Divisional Railway Managers (DRMs) of all Zonal Railways/PUs joined the meeting virtually.

In the review meeting, Vaishnaw examined hospital infrastructure; paediatric ward functioning, vaccination of Children and staff of Railways including provisioning of booster dose to frontline workers of Railways; availability of medicines, oxygen supply, zeolite stock and other necessary medical support and functioning of ventilators,; liquid medical oxygen tanks and other equipment which is critical in COVID treatment.

The Union Minister was informed about the commissioning of Oxygen Plants. Out of total sanctioned oxygen plants, 78 have been commissioned and 17 are yet to be commissioned.

He also stressed on creating awareness and increasing the frequency of announcements at railway stations about using face masks, sanitisation of hands and other precautionary measures.