6 Oxygen PSA plants set up in Himachal medical colleges, hospitals

Shimla: More than two lakh children in the age groups of (15-18) years have so far been vaccinated in the state during the last three days and that is a great achievement, said Jai Ram Thakur, the HP Chief Minister, while virtually inaugurating six PSA plants at Medical College Chamba, Civil Hospital Chowari, Chamba, DDU Shimla, KNH Shimla, Regional Hospital Rampur and Civil Hospital Rohru at a cost of Rs 6.60 crore at Peterhof, Shimla Wednesday.

Out of these six plants, five have been established through PM CAREs and one through CSR. He also inaugurated two CT scan machines one at Nahan Medical College in Sirmaur district and another Medical College in Chamba district at a cost of Rs 10 crore. Both these machines are of 128 slices, which would help in microscopic examination of diseases at a faster pace. He also inaugurated an advanced technology digital X-ray machine for Nahan Medical College.

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The Chief Minister also launched three new health programs under the National Health Mission. Under Mission Drishti, the eyes of children of classes VI to XII would be examined and free spectacles would be provided as per the requirement.

Under the School Health and Wellness Program under Ayushman Bharat Scheme, two teachers would be nominated as Health and Wellness Ambassadors from each school and would be trained on 11 aspects related to adolescent health. These ambassadors would further prepare at least two students of each class as Health and Wellness Messengers.

At present, this program was being started in 3,017 schools in six districts of Mandi, Kangra, Bilaspur, Una, Chamba and Sirmaur and later it would be extended to other districts as well.

Besides this, the National T.B eradication programme was also launched by the Chief Minister, which aims to make the State T.B. free by the year 2025. He also launched the booklets regarding guidelines regarding TB Eradication Programme and other publications of the Health Department on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Thakur said that it was a matter of satisfaction that today the State has 41 PSA Plants, 11543 D-Type, 3837 B-Type and 1400 A-Type Oxygen Cylinders and more than 5000 Oxygen Concentrators with a capacity to produce more than 95 metric tonnes of oxygen.

He said at one stage, the State had only two oxygen plants at Shimla and Tanda. He said two CT scan machines have also been dedicated today by him, one at Nahan Medical College in Sirmaur district and another Medical College in Chamba district at a cost of rupees five crore each.

The Chief Minister said the State government was working vigorously for eradication of TB, for which number of C.B. NAT machines were being increased in the state. He said TB patients were being given financial assistance of Rs. 1500 per month in addition to this, Rs. 500 being provided by the Government of India's per month during the period of treatment.

He said the number of cases of Covid-19 was increasing at a rapid pace which was a matter of concern. He also urged the people to ensure Covid-19 appropriate behaviour as even today prevention was better than cure. He said that the State Government has imposed few restrictions to check the spread of the virus. He said that the State Government was well aware of the situation and was ready to meet any eventuality.

Urban Development Minister Suresh Bhardwaj said the State has successfully tackled the pandemic during the last two year and credit of this goes to the able leadership of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and dedicated team of doctors, paramedical staff and other health workers.

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