Navy offers Goa help with Covid treatment

PANAJI: Gearing up to assist the state government, the Indian Navy has offered to take in Covid-19 patients who need oxygen support and is simultaneously exploring ways to supply medical oxygen to government-run hospitals in Goa if the need arises.
Naval authorities with the Goa Naval Area headquarters said that INHS Jeevanti has earmarked some beds for civilian Covid-19 patients where oxygen can also be provided to patients whose levels drop.
“Naval teams at Goa had set up community kitchens during the first wave of Covid-19 and are prepared to provide similar help as and when required. In addition to earmarking some Covid oxygen beds for civilians at INHS Jeevanti, Headquarters Goa Naval Area is exploring provision of oxygen to civil hospitals based on any requests received from the civil administration,” the Indian Navy said in a statement.
With Covid-19 cases overwhelming government and private hospitals across the country and oxygen-supported beds for severe cases in short supply, the Indian Navy has decided to open up three naval hospitals under Western Naval Command (WNC) — INHS Jeevanti-Goa, INHS Patanjali-Karwar and INHS Sandhani-Mumbai — for the respective state governments.
At Karwar, arrangements to support nearly 1,500 migrant labourers have been made. The labourers will be provided with essential items, rations and basic healthcare. “INHS Patanjali, the first Armed Forces hospital to treat civilian Covid-19 patients last year, is prepared to receive civilian Covid-19 patients if there is any emergent requirement,” the navy said.
In Mumbai, facilities have been set up inside naval premises to provide basic amenities so that migrant labourers are not compelled to proceed to their home towns.
At present naval hospitals are involved in the vaccination of service personnel and their dependents along with civilians and their dependents who are employed at defence establishments. The Indian Navy is also exploring the feasibility of extending the vaccination facility to the civil population in the vicinity once it vaccinates all its personnel and their relatives who are above 18 years.