KOCHI: A year after taking care of Covid patients, Cochin International Airport Limited’s (Cial) second-line treatment centre at its Convention Centre, has been closed.
The decision was taken in the wake of a decrease in the number of patients in need of hospitalization in the district. Many other first and second-line treatment centres have also stopped functioning for the same reason.
The centre had been functioning under the supervision of the Ernakulam district administration. It was opened in July 2020. The centre that was opened as an FLTC in 30,000 sq ft was converted to an SLTC in November after upgrading the facilities.
“The centre had the facility to treat 250 patients at a time adhering to Covid protocols,” said a Cial statement. “Also, there was a plant at the centre to avail medical oxygen to 150 patients simultaneously. As many as 4,203 patients from Thrissur and Ernakulam districts availed accommodation and treatment at the centre. Around 500 health workers including 30 doctors worked at the centre,” the statement said.
After the centre had opened, the administration was able to reduce the rush of patients at many hospitals including the Ernakulam medical college hospital. Cial reportedly provided electricity and water free-of-cost for the centre’s functioning as a gesture of its social commitment.
As the treatment has been stopped, Cial managing director S Suhas has directed to take over the control of the convention centre. National Health Mission (NHM) project manager Dr Mathews Numbelli handed over the key of the centre to Suhas. The centre will be reopened for weddings and other functions after a twoweek-long cleaning and disinfection drive.
