The second wave of coronavirus has havoc in India. More than two lakh deaths have occurred due to corona infection since March 1 this year. Since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, three out of every five deaths have been caused by the coronavirus. The situation was no different in Raipur, the capital city of Chhattisgarh. In early April 2021, over 1200 cases were being reported daily. People were gasping for oxygen.
The district administration of Raipur, Chhattisgarh however, rose to the occasion. It imposed a strict and well-laid out curbs across the entire district to bring down the number of people affected by the deadly virus.
NOTHING IMPOSSIBLE
The able yet determined officers from Raipur district administration led from the front in bringing the situation of the second wave under control through comprehensive “tracing, testing and treatment”. But timely stocking and adequate supply of oxygen cylinders and medicines for the covid affected patients helped immensely in bringing the situation under control to a great extent.
The next stop for the district administration was the villages in and around Raipur. After controlling the covid situation in and around the cities of Chhattisgarh, it was now time to cater to the needs of the village folks. The able administration kick-started the covid preparedness by reaching out to the villagers and educating them of the possible aftermath of Covid 19.
Schools were converted into quarantine centres so that no person needed to move out of the village and go to Raipur or any nearby city for further treatment. That was the main objective behind the move, led by these determined and responsible officers. Speaking to Indian Masterminds, the then Zila Panchayat CEO, Shri Gaurav Singh stated that corona volunteers played an important role in creating awareness among the villagers.
DOCTORS AND MEDICAL ADVICE JUST A CALL AWAY
The Raipur district administration also made sure that people who opted for home isolation were provided the best medical attention as and when required. Right from doctors’ advice to medicines to any other query, all arrangements were taken care of. Till date, in Raipur only, 71% of Covid-19 patients have been treated in home isolation. Most of them have recovered successfully and are leading a normal and healthy life thereafter.
A toll-free number was arranged where every query was answered to. Also, free consultation and medicines were arranged for Covid-19 infected people for a span of 14 days by the administration.
STRICT ACTION PROMISED
The District Collector of Raipur, Dr. S Bharathidasan, IAS, while speaking to Indian Masterminds, sounds confident of tackling similar challenges in future as well. “Raipur is all geared up to face any possible Covid-19 third wave in the days to come”.
He claims that the district administration won’t lower its guards even as the second wave is on the wane. There will be no laxity in Covid-19 preparedness of the State. An additional 200 beds have been kept ready out of which 50% of the beds are ready with oxygen supply and 10% beds are ready with ventilators for critical patients.
FULLY PREPARED
Dr Bharathidasan also claims that arrangements are so made that patients walking into Covid-treatment centers for treatment must be provided with the best state-of-the-art medical facilities. Special arrangements are also made for pregnant women and children, as the possible third Covid-19 wave is expected to hit these two the most. Yet, there is a lot more to be done as the virus hasn’t gone away completely and has been mutating consistently. After all the less devastating effects of covid on the people, the more determined the corona warriors are, both in uniform and also for the ones working from the offices.
