DRDO’s Lucknow hospital may take in Covid-19 patients directly

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<strong>The recently commenced makeshift Covid-19 hospital set up by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is likely to admit patients directly subject to the availability of beds.</strong></p>
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Located at Awadh Shilpgram, this 500-bed hospital is at present taking in patients through the Integrated Covid Command Centre (ICCC) at Lucknow, set up by the State Government.</p>
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Having gone functional on May 5, Friday was a special day for this hospital as its first discharge took place. A Muslim woman walked out with the PPE donned staff clapping for her.</p>
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Defeated virus<br />
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First patient discharged after recovery from ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE HOSPITAL , LUCKNOW<br />
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Built by DRDO and Medical operations by Armed forces<a href="https://twitter.com/DRDO_India?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DRDO_India</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AsianetNewsEN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AsianetNewsEN</a> <a href="https://t.co/ch0BwMXNEl">pic.twitter.com/ch0BwMXNEl</a></p>
— Anish Singh (@anishsingh21) <a href="https://twitter.com/anishsingh21/status/1390596182062157825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Talking to TOI, the DRDO Director Narendra Kumar Arya said: “The Lucknow-based DRDO hospital discharged its first patient on Friday. It will soon start admitting whoever is coming to the hospital even directly.”</p>
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Atal Bihari Vajpayee Covid Hospital of 500 bed capacity has been set up by <a href="https://twitter.com/DRDO_India?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DRDO_India</a> at Lucknow in record time. The hospital is being run by a team from Armed Forces comprising of doctors of many specialities along with nurses & paramedic staff. <a href="https://t.co/COPF6qqxzN">pic.twitter.com/COPF6qqxzN</a></p>
— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/DefenceMinIndia/status/1389910988699353095?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2021</a></blockquote>
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However, till now no confirmation has been received about this from those incharge of Covid-19 cases in the State and region.</p>
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At present admission to the hospital can be made through ICCC (0522-4523000). The two helpline numbers for the attendants to get information about their patients are 95191-09239 and 95191-09240).</p>
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Named after the former Prime Minister of India, the makeshift  hospital is called Atal Bihari Covid Hospital and it was inaugurated by the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday.</p>
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Talking to the mediapersons, the CM had said: “We have inaugurated the makeshift hospital today. In the first phase, we have inaugurated 250 beds. Of the total beds here, 150 would be Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds while others would be a set of general beds, equipped with 24 hours oxygen connectivity.”</p>
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While assuring that the remaining beds would be operational soon, Shantanu Pratap Singh, the Public Relation Officer, Defence, Lucknow said, “The hospital is equipped with a 20 kilo litre oxygen tank that would ensure uninterrupted oxygen supply to the hospitalized Covid patients.”</p>
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Singh added that other than ensuring regular oxygen supply, the hospital was also equipped with a dedicated power backup and bio medical and other waste management system to ensure hygienic environment at the hospital.</p>
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Elaborating on the staff for the hospital, he said: “Indian Armed Forces have provided 30 medical specialists, 28 medical officers, 6 officers for administrative support, 51 nursing officers, 110 nursing assistants/technicians and 79 support staff for the hospital.”</p>
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Be it food or medical treatment, he said there will be no charges for facilities available at the hospital.</p>
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Lucknow is to get another makeshift 250-bed Covid hospital that would come up in Haj House later this week. This was confirmed by Gopal Sutar, Chief of Corporate Communications/Media Relations at HAL. Operational in a few days it would be of L3 category and would be equipped with around 100 high flow nasal cannula and 25 ventilators.</p>