Kashi Gears Up To Tackle Third Wave

Varanasi: The second wave of Covid-19 is coming under control, but some experts have warned of a third wave that would affect children and newborns more. Though the nation was caught unaware by the sudden surge of cases due to highly infectious variant, the authorities in Varanasi, the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have been busy making preparations to counter any situation if it arises and have planned to set up a group of experts to tackle any impending crisis.
MLC A K Sharma, a former IAS and PM’s trusted aide, who is Covid in-charge of Varanasi, said, “The PM has been keeping a constant eye on the Covid situation in Varanasi and we are getting all assistance.We have handled the second wave successfully and are fully prepared for the third wave if it comes.”
“After tackling critical issues like availability of oxygen, hospital beds and medicines, we are now focusing on preparedness for any future crisis. A group of experts from the medical field will design an action plan for this,” he said.
Sharma, who attended the PM’s video conference on April 18 with divisional commissioner, district magistrate and commissioner of police, said the PM is taking constant feedback and had asked the administration to extend all assistance to the people of Varanasi with utmost sensitivity. “All measures for improvement in Covid care in Varanasi were on the directions of the PMO,” he added.
Divisional commissioner Deepak Agrawal said, “Focus now is on medical infrastructure for pediatric care besides strengthening existing facilities further.”
“Today, Varanasi is almost self-dependent for oxygen needs even with an increased number of beds. Varanasi is in a position to supply oxygen to neighbouring districts as well,” he added.
District magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said, “Today, there is no problem for Covid patients in getting beds in the hospital. There are 2,400 beds with oxygen support, which would be increased to 2,900 shortly.”
“Besides, anticipating a surge of cases in rural areas, we had started a massive drive just after panchayat elections counting and sent dedicated teams to survey villages and distribute medicines to those having any symptoms,” he said.
So far, medicines have been distributed to 78,000 families in rural areas and RTPCR tests were increased from 5,000 to 6,000 per day a month ago to 12,000 per day with installation of two automatic RNA extraction machines. The test reports are now available within 24 hours.
A Kashi Covid Response Centre (KCRC), which works round the clock, was set up with dedicated phone lines for ambulances and telemedicine for timely help to Covid patients.
Varanasi gets its first oxygen plant: The Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) oxygen generating plant, a source of medical-grade oxygen, started functioning at the Deen Dayal Government Hospital in Varanasi. The 600 LPM PSA Oxygen generation plant, set up with local industry CSR funds, was brought from Aurangabad, Maharashtra. The plant brought a major relief to DDU district hospital, which has 203 beds out of which 120 are getting oxygen directly from the plant, which was installed in a week’s time.Local industrialist and vice-president of Indian Industries’ Association RK Chowdhary had donated funds for this plant.
Closed oxygen plant restarts: An oxygen plant lying defunct for years in Darekhu area was acquired by the district administration and restarted to tackle oxygen crisis. The plant is refilling 450 cylinders per day, and its capacity will be increased to 1,000 cylinders.
Earlier, the district was getting oxygen from six plants in Chandauli and one in Mirzapur.
Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital self-dependent for oxygen: With the installation of a 120 LPM oxygen plant, the Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital in Ramnagar became self-dependent for oxygen needs. Another 960 LPM plant is being installed with the help of DRDO.
Oxygen cylinder refilling for home isolation patients: The district administration started oxygen cylinder refilling in Durgakund and Chowkaghat for Covid patients in home isolation. The poor patients will be given free oxygen, while others will be charged Rs 550 for refilling a jumbo cylinder.
DRDO Covid hospital functional: A 750-bed makeshift hospital set up by DRDO at BHU became functional recently. The Armed Forces have provided specialists, doctors, nursing and other medical staff, to run the hospital in coordination with BHU and civil administration. The medical staff has been trained in Covid protocols. All beds in the hospital have oxygen support as the hospital has three tanks with a total 40 KL capacity. Medicines and food are being provided free of charge to all patients.
Local jugaad: Not only foreign aid and government efforts, local people contributed with their ‘jugad’ to overcome the oxygen crisis. Divisional commissioner Deepak Agrawal said two entrepreneurs of Ramnagar Industrial Area, Vipin Agrawal and Gautam Chaudhary, developed a 400 LMP oxygen plant using ‘desi jugaad’ with locally available material. On the initiative of the commissioner, Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW) provided them two tanks for this purpose. This plant is being installed at the district hospital in Chandauli. Besides, local mechanics helped in running two oxygen plants imported from the USA and Israel. “We got oxygen plants from foreign countries and local mechanics who had no prior experience installed the plants and made them functional,” said DM Kaushal Raj Sharma.