Will defeat the new variant of Corona: Chief Minister Shri Chouhan

Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that the then Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee had sought America’s cooperation in helping quake affected people in Gujarat about 20 years ago through the American India Foundation (AIF). The AIF extended a helping hand in that hour of disaster. These services cannot be forgotten. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan was virtually inaugurating the 500 LPM capacity oxygen plant (costing Rs 80 lakh) at Kailashnath Katju Civil Hospital, Bhopal and 250 LPM capacity oxygen plant (costing Rs 55 lakhs) in Baidhan, district Singrauli with the help of the Foundation. On this occasion, a new 50-bed modular unit was also launched in the district hospitals of Sehore and Betul. The cost of each unit is Rs. 01 crore 60 lakh

Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that now we will be victorious with the cooperation of the Foundation and other organizations in the fight against the new variant and Corona virus will be defeated. Recently, the oxygen plants of the state have also been examined through mock drill. Taking precautions with public cooperation, we will control Corona virus in the state.

Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that in Madhya Pradesh, all preparations have been made by the state government to deal with the third wave of Corona. While the precautions of mutual distance and use of masks are being ensured, the work of providing protection to the entire population through vaccination is being done promptly and on priority. Out of the eligible population in the state, 93 percent have received the first dose and 70 percent have received the second dose. Vaccination work is going on continuously through big compaingns. All eligible persons above the age of 18 are targeted for vaccination in the month of December. The wave has to be stopped at all cost. Even if the wave comes, we are fully prepared to face it.

Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that facilities like treatment and management of patients, Single User Ventilator, Pulse Oximeter, Oxygen Concentrator, Oxygen Plant, Cold Storage and Modular Hospital have been provided by the Foundation for Covid control. An amount of about Rs 15 crores was spent on this. Apart from this, the foundation is also supporting the vaccination campaign. The team of the Foundation working for the service of suffering humanity deserves praise. The model of Corona control with public cooperation has been appreciated in Madhya Pradesh. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that the foundation has been helping in providing assistance to the disabled, street vendors, women and also the tribal community. Along with this, AIF’s support is also being provided in vaccination in Vidisha, Guna Dhar, Dindori, Mandla and Chhindwara.

Country Director of the Foundation, Shri Matthew Joseph said that the Foundation is acting as a bridge between the US and India. In the first phase of Covid in Madhya Pradesh, the foundation supported the work of protecting frontline workers from getting infected, supplying ration for migrant workers and their families. Ply surgical masks, personal protective equipment, N-95 masks, gloves, thermal scanners were provided. The Foundation provides immediate assistance to critically ill people to augment existing healthcare infrastructure. The foundation remained active even in the second wave of Covid. Along with Covid control, work is also being done in the field of education. In the event of floods in Uttarakhand and Kerala in the country, help was also provided to the affected.

Project Officer of American India Foundation, Sushri Kriti Pradhan handed over the progress report of the works done by the Foundation to Chief Minister Shri Chouhan. Public Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Prabhuram Choudhary, Medical Education Minister Shri Vishwas Sarang, Chief Secretary Shri Iqbal Singh Bains, and Additional Chief Secretary Health Shri Mohammad Suleman were present on the occasion.