Odisha Govt Staffer Mrutyunjaya Airlifted To Kolkata For ECMO Treatment; Family Appeals For Help

Bhubaneswar: Mrutyunjaya Patra, a 49-year-old government employee, was airlifted to Kolkata on Friday from Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) here for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment.

He was undergoing treatment at Apollo Hospitals in the city for the last 26 days. He was on ventilator support and doctors had recommended ECMO treatment as the last option.

According to hospital reports, his lungs involvement is around 90%.

“He is a government employee. He was infected with the virus while performing the government duty. We request Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to help us from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF). We have already spent over Rs 40 lakh in the private hospital by taking loan. We need Rs 1 crore more for the treatment,” said his family members.

Mrutyunjaya, who is employed with the Odisha State Housing Board, had tested positive for COVID-19 on June 10 and was admitted to the hospital on June 16.

Doctors confirmed that he is suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to COVID-19. Till July 6, he was kept on NIV oxygen support and on July 7, he was put on a ventilator.

Donation can be made using this link. Mrutyunjaya lives in Bhadrak, with his wife and two children.