Delhi, July 09: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently presiding over a high-level meeting to review the augmentation and availability of oxygen across the country. The high-level meeting is being attended by Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry officials, and top government officials.
Officials briefed PM about the progress on the installation of PSA Oxygen plants across the country. More than 1500 PSA Oxygen plants are coming up across the nation which includes contributions from PM CARES as well as various ministries & PSUs.
PSA Oxygen plants contributed by PM CARES are coming up in all states and districts of the country. PM was informed that once all PSA Oxygen plants coming up through PM CARES would be functional, they would support more than 4 lakh oxygenated beds.
PM instructed the officials to ensure that these plants are made functional at the earliest and to work closely with the state governments for the same. Officers apprised the PM that they are in regular touch with officers from state governments regarding fast-tracking the oxygen plants.
PM asked officials to ensure there is adequate training of hospital staff on the operation and maintenance of oxygen plants. He also directed officials to ensure that each district has trained personnel available. Officials informed him that there is a training module prepared by experts and they are targeting the training of around 8000 people across the country.
PM also said that we should deploy advanced technology like IoT to track the performance and functioning of these oxygen plants at a local and national level. Officials apprised the PM about a pilot being done using IoT for monitoring the performance of the oxygen plants.
Principal Secretary to PM, Cabinet Secretary, Secretary Health, Secretary MoHUA, and other important officials were present in the meeting.
Mandaviya took over the country’s Covid fight at a critical time when the government is working on a strategy to stave off the third wave by ramping up the vaccination drive in the country.
According to the Health Ministry data, the country reported 43,393 new cases and 911 deaths in the last 24 hours due to Covid-19, taking the caseload and death toll to 30,752,950 and 405,939, respectively.
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Earlier on Thursday, PM Modi had expressed his concern over people flouting the Covid protocols. The Prime Minister instructed his ministers to actively participate in Covid management.
Meanwhile, the government has announced a Rs 23,123-crore package for improving health infrastructure to fight COVID-19. The funds will be used to make necessary arrangements like pediatric care units to ICU beds, oxygen storage, ambulances, and medicines in all the districts of the country.
