India’s armed forces have stepped in big time to reverse the second wave of Covid-19.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has tapped the Army to assist state administrations to deal with the pandemic, including adding more beds to treat Covid-19 patients.
Following Singh's orders, Army Chief Gen. MM Naravane, said that the Army would consider treating civilians in its medical facilities, besides extending other assistance to civil administrations, an agency report said.
Also read: DRDO’s Oxygen Delivery System, a boon in Covid-19 pandemic
Singh ‘s directive follows a virtual meeting with top officials including the Defence secretary Ajay Kumar, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat to review the preparedness of the Defence Ministry, Armed Forces to counter the Covid-19 surge that is sweeping across the country. Singh was apparently briefed about the measures taken by the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), weapon researcher Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSU), Ordnance Factory Boards (OFB), and other departments of the ministry in providing aid to the civil administrations. DPSUs, DRDO and OFB have started working on a war footing to provide oxygen cylinders and extra beds to the civil administrations.
Singh has directed officials of Army units in various states to connect with state administrations to understand their requirements including additional demand for hospital beds to cater for the rising tide of patients.
Last night Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that managing the pandemic, with minimum disruption to the economy, would be top priority. Blanket lockdowns would be the means of last resort.
Following his review, the Defence Ministry instructed 67 hospitals run by Cantonment Boards across the country to ensure medical services to cantonment residents as well as those from outside.
The DRDO has already reopened a medical facility near the Delhi airport for treatment of Covid-19 patients. The facility has been made operational with 250 beds and their number is being increased to 1,000. It is also setting up a similar facility in Lucknow.
In Patna, ESIC hospital has been converted to a Covid hospital with 500 beds.
