Nilgiris prepares to fight third Covid wave

UDHAGAMANDALAM: The Nilgiris district administration has launched measures to tackle the predicted third Covid-19 wave.
The administration is holding back the existing 19 Covid care centres, said Nilgiris collector J Innocent Divya. “We are holding Covid care centres back as a precautionary measure. Periodical fumigation is done to keep them ready. Also, 1,000 more beds are being set up in six new Covid care centres across the district.”
Currently, the district has 2,474 beds, including 500 in government hospitals.As part of the measure, the collector has written to the government seeking appointment of physicians and specialists, especially pediatricians in vacant posts and additional posts in government hospitals. “It was widely reported that the third wave could affect children more,” said Divya.
The five government hospitals in the district are being installed with oxygen generators so that the district becomes self-sufficient in oxygen supply. “With a capacity of 500litre/minute, an oxygen generation unit started functioning a few days ago at the old premises of the Ooty Government Medical College and Hospital,” said Divya.
Likewise, the facility is being provided to government hospitals in Kotagiri, Coonoor, Gudalur and Pandalur. While Kotagiri and Coonoor GHs will have units having 500 litre/minute capacity, Gudalur and Pandalur GH will generate 250 litres of oxygen per minute. While the oxygen unit in Ooty GH is government-funded, those at other GHs are sponsored by private donors.
“Thus, we will be a self-sufficient district when it comes to oxygen supply,” said Divya. “Vaccination is the best shield. But the main objective is scaling up vaccination efforts, which could play an important role in mitigating the virus and the future wave.”
Health minister Ma.Subramanian, who visited Ooty on June 6, had promised to give priority to small districts such as the Nilgiris to complete vaccination.