NMC 1st Vid civic body to use own hospital to treat Covid patients

Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is set to become the first civic body in Vidarbha to use its hospitals to treat Covid-19 patients. For starters, this will be at the Indira Gandhi Rugnalaya (IGR) at LAD Square.
Apart from the IGR, the civic body has also completed all works at three other dedicated Covid health centres (DCHC). The IGR has been converted into a 130-bed centre with 16 in the ICU. Asymptomatic and moderately severe patients will be treated here.
With the help of special funds sanctioned by guardian minister Nitin Raut, municipal commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, Dr Yogendra Savai and Dr Praveen Gantawar had planned the five DCHCs.
Works at Pachpaoli DCHC with 100-beds (16 in ICU), Sadar Hospital (35 beds) and Isolation Hospital, Imamwada (32 beds) is also complete. Only the works at KT Nagar, the fifth DCHC, is delayed. The centre here was opposed by residents and West Nagpur MLA Vikas Thakre.
NMC sources said that the appointment of staff at IGR is pending “as most medical workers are busy in containment zones”.
Already facing shortage of staff, the NMC faces an uphill task to operate the DCHCs as its personnel are working in quarantine centres, containment zones and special camps for testing high-risk patients.
After end of Covid-19, these hospitals situated in all corners of the city will become lifeline for many people from slums and other areas.
Currently, Covid patients are being treated at the state-run IGGMCH, GMCH and AIIMS. Totally, the three can treat 1,280 people. As of Tuesday, 416 are undergoing treatment.
Cases are on rise in the district with 537 people testing positive in 16 days of June.
After Mominpura, Satranjipura and Naik Talao-Bangladesh, areas like Tandapeth, Chandramani Nagar, Indora, Lashkaribagh among others have started to witness a large number of cases. Most are coming from newer areas, slums and congested localities. There are 58 containment zones in city now.
Meanwhile, cases in Hingna tehsil crossed 50 on Tuesday with most patients coming from the chain of Isasani and Nildoh. They are connected with an industry that was closed by collector Ravindra Thakre a couple of days ago for not maintaining Covid-19 distancing and following other norms.
On Tuesday, Thakre held a meeting with associations of Hingna, Butibori, Kalmeshwar and other industrial areas. He explained about the need for complying with all Covid guidelines to prevent spread of disease. He also warned that not adhering to the rules will result in shutting down of industries.
Later, Thakre formed squads to make surprise visits at industries in Nagpur Rural.
The number of cases in Nagpur Rural has increased to 119 with maximum coming this month.