Striving hard to tackle second wave: Mancherial MLA

MLA Diwakar Rao says steps being taken to ramp up health infra and address oxygen shortage

Mancherial: The district is reeling under the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic which has claimed nearly 100 lives so far. Mancherial MLA Nadipelli Diwakar Rao said he was making all efforts to tackle the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic. In a Telephonic interview with Telangana Today, he narrates how he was dealing with pandemic situation and helping Covid patients.

Q: Tell us about the steps being taken to contain the pandemic in Mancherial Assembly constituency?

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A: A slew of steps were taken for effective Covid-19 management by coordinating with officials concerned. Measures were taken for addressing the shortage of oxygen by procuring them from various manufacturers and SCCL’s thermal power plant at Jaipur. Efforts were made for equipping Bellampalli isolation centre with 16 ventilators, NAV supporters and anesthetist, nurses and other basic facilities.

At the same time, a 200-bed isolation centre was created at a club in Mancherial town for the convenience of patients who do not have separate toilets and rooms in their houses. I recommended the directorate of health to permit many private hospitals to treat the patients so that the infected could depend on nursing homes of the town without needing to travel to Karimnagar and Hyderabad.

Q: How are you extending your support to Covid-19 patients from financially weak backgrounds whenever they approach you seeking help?

A: I could arrange Remdesivir injections to 43 Covid patients with the help of top bureaucrats at Chief Minister’s Office in Hyderabad and government Chief Whip Balka Suman in the month of April alone. I am helping people in undergoing CT scan at Mancherial district headquarters hospital, and patients in getting admitted to private hospitals of the town.

Similarly, I am arranging Remdesivir vials to patients who are undergoing treatment at private hospitals of Mancherial at maximum retail price, reducing the financial burden. I am ensuring that private hospitals charge below Rs 1 lakh for treating the Covid patients as we helped them in getting permission to render treatment to the infected.

On the other hand, I am acting as a bridge between the family members of the patients and doctors by clarifying their doubts. I am monitoring medication with the help of specialist doctors. I have been arranging oxygen concentrators for the needy at affordable prices from Warangal and Hyderabad.

Q: Are you extending any help to the kin of Covid victims?

A: We are extending all support to the bereaved family members of the victims in performing final rites with the help of sanitation staffers of Mancherial municipality. The ritual is carried out for free. We decided to offer incentives to the staffers for going the extra mile and for cremation of the bodies risking their lives.

Q: What are your plans to handle the ever increasing infections and to meet future demands?

A: We are planning to increase daily Covid tests in the State-run hospitals and health centres and to increase beds at Bellampalli isolation centre in the near future, considering the alarming rise in the positive cases. An action plan is being prepared for strengthening health infrastructure and for providing the best medical services to the patients in coming days.

Q: What do you have to tell to the Covid patients?

A: One need not panic if he or she tests positive for the virus. The infected must approach doctors within golden time—five days of the contraction of the disease. They can rely on the isolation centre which has ventilators, and sufficient oxygen. They can get Remdesivir for free if required. The needy can contact my son Vijith Rao 984976 6566 for any assistance.

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