Hyderabad: Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister KT Rama Rao said the Covid-19 situation in Telangana State had significantly improved when compared to other States.
Hyderabad, he said, had become the beacon of hope for Covid-19 treatment for not only patients from within the State but also for those from four neighbouring States. Speaking to the media after the first meeting of the Covid-19 Task Force chaired by him on Wednesday, the Minister said the State government had made significant progress in controlling the pandemic with the cooperation of all. He pointed out that Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Harsh Vardhan also stated that the intensity of Covid-19 was on the decline in Telangana.
“The situation is currently under control and the government is making all efforts to restore normality at the earliest and provide all support to the people during these trying times,” he said.
Rama Rao said there was no shortage of medicine stocks pertaining to home isolation kits being supplied by the State government. As part of the ongoing fever survey, about 60 lakh households were visited and 2.1 lakh kits were supplied to symptomatic persons. Due to these efforts of the government, the lives of scores of people were saved with the treatment provided in home isolation and preventing hospitalisation.
The Minister said the number of beds has been increased significantly in both government and private hospitals in all categories including ICU, oxygen and ventilator facilities. The government was maintaining adequate stocks of emergency medicines including Remdesivir and Tocilizumab to save the lives of Covid-19 patients, besides seeking additional supplies in the wake of the influx of patients from neighbouring States. “We have stocks of all the regular medicines for the next three months. Action is also being taken to curb black-marketing of emergency medicines by arresting the black-marketeers,” he explained.
Telangana has about 1.5 lakh Remdesivir injections and efforts are on to procure additional supplies from the manufacturing companies in the State. Rama Rao said clear instructions have been issued to the hospitals not to use Remdesivir indiscriminately. The authorities concerned have been directed to monitor the use of the injections and obtain details of its use in all the hospitals. “Oxygen auditing will also be conducted by the authorities concerned daily. We are trying not to use more oxygen and drugs than necessary,” he added.
The Minister informed that the State government was also on alert over the spread of Black Fungus or Mucormycosis in the State. Necessary medicines are being procured to treat patients who have been diagnosed with the disease. The Task Force also decided to come up with a single helpline number to deal with all Covid-19 related grievances from people across the State. The officials have been directed to take all measures in the districts in coordination with the district-wise teams led by the Ministers to prevent the spread of the pandemic.
Vaccination
Rama Rao stated that of about 92 lakh population of more than 45 years age, about 38 lakh people received their first dose of vaccination with more than 10 lakh people including three lakh frontline warriors receiving both the doses of vaccine. The government has also initiated measures to administer vaccines to the entire population free of cost. It has been decided to convene a meeting with the manufacturers of Covid-19 related medicines and also vaccines shortly.
“We have already taken adequate measures to prevent the spread of the virus and are prepared to take all steps to save as many lives as possible. A comprehensive action plan will be prepared during the Task Force meetings for effective implementation of Covid-19 preventive measures and also measures to provide best possible treatment to people in the State,” he said.
Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, Principal Secretaries Jayesh Ranjan (IT and Industries) and Vikas Raj (General Administration), Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Secretary Sandeep Kumar Sultania along with CMO special officer Rajasekhar Reddy and other higher officials, attended the meeting.
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