COVID Surge: Odisha BJP Urges CM To Strengthen Health Infra In Rural Areas

Bhubaneswar: Concerned over the alarming rise in COVID-19 positive cases in rural areas of Odisha, the state BJP on Friday submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik urging him to take steps on a war footing to contain the spread of the virus.

The memorandum, signed by Baripada MLA Prakash Soren, Brahmagiri MLA Lalitendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra, Loisingha MLA Mukesh Mahaling, Opposition Chief Whip and Keonjhar MLA Mohan Majhi and Paralakhemundi MLA K Narayana Rao, has asked the Chief Minister to take following measures:

— Strengthen existing infrastructure of sub-centres, PHC and CHC in rural areas and conduct door-to-door COVID test and tracing

— Set up 20 beds in each CHC and appointment of doctors and health staffers for emergency treatment of infected patients

— Appointment of doctors and staffers in district-level COVID Care Centres  (CCCs)

— Priority to be given on adequate supply of oxygen cylinders, ventilators and ICU beds

— Appointment of technical staff on war footing to operate ventilators and oxygen cylinders

— Fill up vacant posts of doctors in rural areas

— Make the defunct temporary medical centres (TMCs) and quarantine centres in rural areas operational to keep COVID-afflicted family members in isolation

— Make arrangements for mass vaccination through massive awareness campaign by the COVID Crisis Management Committees