Indian Navy Hospitals Step In To Ramp Up Healthcare Facilities Amid Surge In Covid-19 Cases

The Western Naval Command (WNC) of the Indian Navy has installed oxygen beds in three of its hospitals in order to ramp up medical facilities for Covid-19 patients.

Preparations on this front have been done at the INHS Patanjali in Karwar, INHS Sandhani in Mumbai and at the INHS Jeevanti that is situated in Goa.

In fact, the INHS Asvini situated in Mumbai has also built composite teams consisting of medical and non-medical staff.

These units are being trained as 'Battle Field Nursing Assistants' for deployment purposes at Covid care hospitals on a short-term notice.

Recent weeks have witnessed large congregations of migrant workers preparing to travel back to their hometowns due to the lockdown situation in Mumbai.

Hence, the Indian Navy's premises in the commercial capital has also been set up with facilities to provide basic amenities to the labour workforce in order to prevent their reverse migration.

Similarly, the naval authorities in Karwar have made arrangements for assistance of around 1,500 migrant labourers by ensuring supply of essential items like ration, basic healthcare etc.

The Navy is also open to providing oxygen to civil hospitals based on the requests made by the concerned administrations.

For example, the Gujarat Naval Area has lent its support to the civil administration for the transportation of critical medical equipment to areas infected by Covid-19.

It is also willing to establish community kitchens for the poor and assist in other technical support too.

The Navy hospitals are also considering the extension of its Covid-19 vaccination facility to the civil population in their vicinity.

However, this will be done only once after the force's service personnel, defence civilians and their dependents falling in the age bracket of 18 - 44 years are inoculated starting from 1st May onward, reports The Economic Times.