In order to battle the possible second wave of coronavirus in the state, Odisha government has deployed 36 doctors for effective management and functioning of COVID-related works in four districts. As per a notification issued by the Health department on Monday (April 5), 36 post PG doctors have been appointed for places that have recently witnessed a rise in the Covid infections. The districts include Kalahandi, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur and Nuapada.
10 doctors each have been posted in Kalahandi and Nuapada districts and eight doctors each have been assigned responsibility of Malkangiri and Nabarangpur. All the doctors from SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack and MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur will work under the Chief District Medical and Public Health Officers in the four districts.
The state health department has also deployed 25 AYUSH doctors to work under the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) to ensure smooth operations of Covid-19 related works. The move has been taken due to a surge in the number of Covid positive cases in the BMC jurisdiction in the last few days. The doctors have been asked to report in person to the BMC Commissioner by April 6.
On Monday, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of Odisha Health department, Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra, wrote to the Secretary of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, seeking adequate supply of Covishield vaccine doses to Odisha. The official said that Odisha has been assured only 3.5 lakh doses of Covisheild by 6th April (2 PM), which will not be sufficient for even two days. Citing that Odisha is vaccinating over 2 lakh people every day, the state government has requested Union Health Ministry for supply of at least 15 lakh doses of Covishield to Odisha immediately.