Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 26
As the seriousness of Covid-19 increases, doctors of the armed forces and the network of military hospitals have been told to be ready to help in handling patients and testing samples.
Navy warships are on standby with medical teams, supplies and medical equipment in case any neighbouring country would want it. The Indian Air Force is already flying in planes and helicopters ferrying doctors to remote locations and also flying back with samples from Ladakh for testing at Chandigarh and Delhi.
This morning Defence Minister Rajnath Singh urged the armed forces to gear up their preparedness to provide all required assistance to the civilian administration at various levels.
Instructions have been issued to add more quarantine centre. The forces now have created facility to house some 10,000 persons at various locations.
Army to set up quarantine centres for personnel
New Delhi: The Army has started the process of identifying additional infrastructure for setting up quarantine centres in each station for its personnel to deal with the Covid-19 outbreak, senior officials said on Thursday. The Army is also preparing a plan to “sidestep” medical personnel from lesser virus-affected areas to those severely affected by the outbreak, the officials noted.
The Army, which is the biggest forces with some 13 lakh personnel has been told to identify additional infrastructure for setting up of quarantine facilities which can also be used for own personnel in case of an outbreak.
Plans have been readied to use medical personnel from lesser affected areas to augment civilian health experts in severely affected areas if required.
Rajnath Singh has appreciated the proactive role played by the Armed Forces and various departments of Minitsry of Defence in evacuating Indian nationals as well as foreigners from Covid-19 affected countries and ensuring them proper care at various quarantine facilities.
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) laboratories have manufactured 20,000 litres of sanitiser and supplied to various organisations, including 10,000 litres to Delhi police. The DRDO has also supplied 10,000 masks to Delhi Police personnel. It is tying up with some private companies to make personal protection equipment such as body suits and also ventilators.
Ordnance Factory Board has also ramped up production of sanitizers, masks and body suits. Bharat Electronics Limited is also engaged in manufacturing of ventilators. Army medical teams deployed in the Maldives have returned after completion of their mission.
The IAF Command Hospital Bangalore has been designated as the first laboratory in the IAF to undertake Covid-19 testing which will greatly enhance the region’s ability to carry out quick testing of suspected cases and allow prompt and timely intervention where required.
A 24×7 crisis management cell has been set up at Air Headquarters and various Command Headquarters to coordinate the aircraft usage.