Odisha Govt Fighting COVID-19 With All Its Resources, Says Naveen

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday said the state government will put every resource in its command to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and save peoples’ lives.

In his address to the BJD MLAs through a video conferencing, the chief minister said funds will never be a constraint when it involves protecting the people. From travel to quarantine to testing to tracing and treatment, food, accommodation, everything has been provided free of cost, he added.

“When in many states, hospitals are charging lakhs of rupees for treatment, our government is providing everything free of cost. Whatever best treatment is available in any part of the world, Odisha will implement the same and make it accessible to our people free of cost,” Naveen said.

“We recently started Plasma therapy and we are seeing encouraging results. Further, I also spoke to the CEO of Serrum Institute regarding vaccines,” he said.

Expressing a deep sense of gratitude to COVID warriors who have been in the frontline fighting the invisible enemy, the chief minister said it is because of their hard work, dedication and sacrifice that more than 18,000 people have been cured and Odisha has saved more people than most states.

“I can proudly say that my Odia brothers and sisters as COVID warriors are not just doing work for salary but working for a mission to save every Odia. I see a Gopabandhu Das, a Madhubabu, a Maa Rama Devi, a ParvatiGiri in each one of your sacrifices,” the CM said.

He appealed to the people to respect our warriors, to treat them with dignity and co-operate wholeheartedly.

“Odisha has seen so many calamities in the past and it is in our blood to fight with our might and come back stronger.  I am sure, the Odisha that will evolve post pandemic will be much stronger and prosperous,” Naveen said.

He also appealed to the legislators to take personal care of themselves and provide inspiring leadership in their constituencies. “Please take care of the COVID Warriors in your areas, encourage plasma donation and educate people at large to follow social distancing, wear masks and practice hand washing,” the chief minister said.