COVID19: Black fungus, child care facilities in focus as UP CM directs officials to prepare for ‘third wave’
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister held a meeting with senior officials in which he directed them to ensure that there are adequate medications available for treating the black fungus cases. He also mentioned that while requesting the Centre to send supplies, the population and the number of COVID19 patients in the state should be paid heed to.
The Uttar Pradesh government has recently earned the ire of Allahabad High Court for its alleged dismal health facilities.
In the wake of rising cases of black fungus (Mucormycosis) in COVID19 patients, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held a high-level meeting yesterday (May 18). In the meeting, he directed the officials to ensure that adequate quantities of medications needed to treat this new complication are available in all districts.
CM Adityanath called Mucormycosis a ‘new challenge’ and asked the officials to write a letter to the Centre requesting it to increase the allocation of the medicines used in treatment of this disease.
“The total population of the state and the number of patients should be kept in view while sending the requisition letter, he further added,” the chief minister said in the meeting.
Regarding the preparedness to tackle a possible third COVID wave, which the experts fear will affect children more adversely, CM Adityanath ordered setting up of a 100-bed Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in all medical colleges.
“At least one PICU should be established in all the 75 districts of the state in the next 15 days,” he ordered.
Taking cognizance of the preparations for setting up oxygen plants in the state, the Chief Minister said that a government order has been issued regarding setting up of oxygen plants in private medical colleges in Uttar Pradesh. Interested institutions will be given all necessary incentives from the government, he assured.
Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh government has recently earned the ire of Allahabad High Court for its alleged dismal health facilities.
Coming down heavily on the government for the dismal state of affairs of the health infrastructure in the state’s villages and small towns, the Allahabad High Court had stated on May 17 that the medical facilities in these areas are ‘Ram Bharose‘ [Upto God].
Uttar Pradesh recorded 8,737 new cases on May 18 , taking the statewide tally to 1,637,663 and it reported 255 fresh deaths raising the COVID19 toll to 18,072.