Assam is self-sufficient in medical oxygen with matching generation and storage capacity: CM Himanta
Guwahati, September 17 (NKTV): Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma today dedicated 14 oxygen generators, set up in 14 different hospitals across the state to the service of the people through virtual mode at a programme held at Assam Administrative Staff College here today.
It may be noted that Assam received 40 oxygen generators as donations from PM CARES Fund. Chief Minister Dr. Sarma inaugurated 14 of them with generating capacity of 15.71 metric tonne per day. The remaining 26 generators with their generating capacity of 47.69 metric tonne will be inaugurated shortly.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma said, “I am happy to dedicate 14 PSA oxygen generators to the service of the people on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday which is being celebrated as the Sewa and Samarpan Divas. These oxygen generation plants with their generating capacity will greatly help the health services delivery system of the state to provide critical care facilities to the patients. I express my gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for his benevolence in donating us the oxygen generators which will help our state to become self-sufficient and also help us to provide medical oxygen to our neighbouring states during any emergent situation”.
Chief Minister Dr. Sarma also said that with the availability of oxygen generators with their installed oxygen generating capacity, the state has also augmented its oxygen storage capacity to the tune of 342 metric tonne. He also said that in the event of the reported third wave of COVID outbreak, the state will be in a better position to deal with any oxygen requirement necessitated by the pandemic.
The Chief Minister also said that in vaccination also Assam has made good progress with 75 per cent of the total eligible population already received the COVID vaccination with 20 per cent of them got both the doses. He said that with ramping up infrastructure coupled with training of man power, the state is in a position to bring the remaining population under the inoculation coverage.
Chief Minister Dr. Sarma thanked National Health Mission, Health and Family Welfare Department and PWD Building and National Highway for their help in getting the oxygen generators ready for the service of the patients.
The 14 oxygen generation plants inaugurated today virtually have been set up at Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College and Hospital, Barpeta, Goalpara Civil Hospital, Guwahati Medical College and Hospital, Guwahati, Swahid Kushal Konwar Civil Hospital, Golaghat, Sub-Divisional Civil Hospital, Bokakhat, Bhogeswari Phukanani Civil Hospital, Nagaon, Sivasagar Civil Hospital, Singimari Model Hospital, RNB Civil Hospital, Kokrajhar, Tezpur Medical College and Hospital, Tinsukia Civil Hospital, Sonari Civil Hospital, S.K. Roy Civil Hospital, Hailakandi and Kalapahar COVID Hospital.
Director, Medical Education Dr. Anup Barman, Mission Director National Health Mission Dr. S. Lakshmanan, Commissioner and Special Secretary PWD (Building and NH) Raj Chakraborty and host of other were present on the occasion.