Bhubaneswar: Odisha Health department warmed up for ensuing Rath Yatra 2025 in Puri. Health Secretary Aswathy S. today reviewed the preparedness in a high level meeting at Lokseba Bhawan Conference hall on Saturday evening.
Taking stock of the available and required health care facilities, Aswathy directed the senior officers of the department present in the meeting to ensure adequate arrangements for sevayats, pilgrims, tourists and people from Nabajauban Darshan ( 26 June) to Niladribije ( 8 July) without fail. She added, “the facilities and services with required manpower be placed well in advance of the scheduled dates of the grand public festival”.
The issues relating to strengthening of hospitals across Puri district, especially the Government health facilities in and around the pilgrim city, setting up of the first aid centers, stationing of ambulance services at strategic sites, deputation of additional manpower including specialists, doctors and paramedics, food safety measures, prevention, combat and control of any possible outbreak etc were discussed in the meeting.
Secretary Aswathy assured that necessary funds would be made available for setting up additional facilities, more beds for the patients, including repair and upkeep of the clinical equipments.
It was decided that more beds and facilities in district head quarter hospital, KDMM home urban public health center, police hospital, Chandanpur CHC, Sakhigopal CHC, Mangalpur CHC, Pipili CHC, TB and IDH hospital, Jagannath medical college and hospital, Station Road, and Rebenuagaon CHC will be kept ready and reserved for the ensuing festival.
Around 33 First Aid Centres (FACs) would function round the clock in three shifts with necessary logistics and emergency medicines. Each shift would have at least one doctor, one pharmacist, one multipurpose health worker and one attendant.
It was proposed to set up the 12 FACs in Badadanda, three in Sea beach area, three in Talabania and Railway station, nine in Puri-Bhubaneswar road, four in Puri-Konark road, and two in Puri-Satapada road. Similarly, 31 more ambulance services with entire team would be placed at the places like district headquarters hospital, Badadanda, Sea beach, various places inside the town, railway station, Puri-Bhubaneswar road, Puri-Konark road, and Puri-Satapada road. The movement of the ambulances would be facilitated by ambulance corridor with the help of volunteers. Besides, 07 numbers of 108 Ambulances will be stationed at strategic points on NH-203.
More than 300 Specialists, Doctors, Nursing officers, Epidemiologist, Pharmacist, Multi-Purpose Health Workers, Dressers, Attendants would be deputed to DHH Puri for healthcare during the festival. Sufficient blood units of different groups would be kept ready for meeting any emergency. It was also decided to station food safety teams headed by Food Safety officers for ensuring food safety precautions. Preventive actions including disinfection of water sources will be carried on before and during the festival along with IEC activities. Rapid Response Teams along with 24×7 Health Control room would be functioning during the festival.
Mission Director Dr Brundha D. , Managing Director OSMCL Dr Poma Tudu, Director State Insitute of Helath & Family Welfare Amarendra Mohanty, Special Secretary Public Health Dr J.M. Bebortha, Special Secretary Health Services Dr Bijay Kumar Mohapatra along with Directors of various directorates under Health and Family Welfare Department participated in the deliberations. CDM and PHO, Puri Dr Rupabhanu Mishra and Superintendent of Jagannath Medical College Dr Kausik Mishra outlined the subject matters along with updates for discussion.
