RINL-Visakhapatnam Steel Plant Mulls 1000 Bed COVID Facility In Ukkunagaram Township

To deal with the second wave of COVID-19, the RINL-Visakhapatnam steel plant is making use of all its internal resources and available facilities and coming up with a "1000 bed Covid Care Hospital Facility" on its premises.

According to a spokesman of RINL, "The central government had directed the RINL collective to build facilities in Ukkunagaram, Visakhapatnam Steel Plant's township, to provide covid care to 1000 patients."

He further added that the fabrication works for cots are progressing at a fast pace at Utility Equipment Repair Shop (UERS) inside plant premises. He also stated, "All the necessary material procurement and arrangements to facilitate the clinical delivery of medical Oxygen near the patient bed are being expedited."

The Gurajada Kalakshetram, a well-known function hall in VSP Township, is being converted into a Covid Care Centre as the first step towards establishing a 1000-bed facility. Many other community halls and public halls/spaces will also be transformed into hospital wards for Covid patients in a staggered manner. All the wards of Visakha Steel General Hospital (approximately 110 bed ) have been converted to Covid wards except one for emergency non-Covid cases.

He said, "In the current situation, RINL stands with the nation and continues to supply Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO). Since April 13, more than 2,200 tonnes of Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) have been dispatched in the fiscal year 2021-22.

These dispatches are mainly to Andhra Pradesh, but it also sent 100 tonnes of oxygen to Maharashtra on April 22 in the First Oxygen Express due to an acute emergency in the state. According to the government's allocation programme, RINL is also assisting Karnataka.

RINL has already sent 11,000 tonnes to different destinations ever since the pandemic began. LMO is distributed and dispatched in accordance with the Drug Controller Authority of India's guidelines.