BHOPAL/JABALPUR: In preparation to the apprehended spurt in Covid-19 cases—oxygen beds, paediatric oxygen beds and oxygen supply arrangements have been made in advance, say officials.
Districts of Bhopal, Jabalpur and Gwalior had remained hotspots for Covid-19 during the second peak. Even as on date, barring Gwalior, majority of the cases are being reported from Bhopal, Indore and Jabalpur districts.
Talking to TOI, officials from these districts claimed that be it oxygen beds, paediatric oxygen beds or ensuring oxygen supplies, it has been ramped up keeping in the mind the benchmark of peak requirements felt during the peak of second wave.
“In Bhopal alone, more than 500 paediatric oxygen supported beds are available across government and private hospitals as of now this include ICUs, as well as beds with oxygen. Then around 3500 beds with oxygen including ICUs are also available. Overall, more than 8,000 beds are available if need arises. Then we have been informed that around 250 MT of oxygen availability is also there. There are 13 oxygen plants owned by government at 12 sites, barring two other are in operational conditions. Besides, these there are 10 oxygen plants at private healthcare facilities too”, chief medical and health officer Bhopal, Dr Prabhakhar Tiwari told TOI. “This is far above the requirement we had faced during the peak of the second wave. Like approximately 160-170 MT of oxygen was required during peak”, he added.
Likewise in Gwalior district local administration has also decked up its preparations.
“We have made arrangements for 5,000 oxygen beds and 500 paediatric oxygen beds. Apart from it oxygen availability of 120 MT is ensured,” district collector Gwalior, Kaushlendra Vikram Singh told TOI.
“During the peak of the second wave, we had a requirement of around 90 MT oxygen, thus, as of now we seem to be prepared”, he added.
In Jabalpur too, the hospital facilities have been ramped up. Joint director health services, Jabalpur division, Dr Sanjay Mishra said, “We are alert and prepared for apprehended third wave, if any. Not only oxygen beds, ICU beds or paediatric beds have been increased but we nearly doubled our oxygen capacity compared to the peak of second wave.”
