Paediatricians and nursing staff hired to tackle third wave

Nellore: By way of preparation to face the anticipated third wave of Covid19, as many as 43 paediatricians have been recruited and 80 more have been identified for selection if a need arises in SPSR Nellore district.

This apart, 103 nursing staff have been hired and final-year students of nursing have been asked to be on standby for induction as and when necessary. Also, medical infrastructure such as oxygen beds, paediatric beds and oxygen plants have been arranged at all important hospitals.

Joint collector Ganesh Kumar said as many as 1945 oxygen beds and 935 general beds, 348 beds with ventilator facility and 384 ICU beds have been arranged to handle the third wave, which could target children. Some 287 paediatric beds, 187 paediatric beds with oxygen and 86 beds with paediatric ventilators have been readied.

Liquid medical oxygen tankers have been installed in 14 places and PSA (pressure swing adsorption) oxygen plants have been set up at 17 major hospitals. Also, 2208 D-type oxygen cylinders and 1889 oxygen concentrators were kept ready to face emergency situations, the joint collector told DC.

An additional number of general duty medical officers had been inducted before the onset of the second wave since April, and they are continuing in their jobs.

The JC said he held a meeting with the management of various nursing colleges and made it clear to them that the final-year students should be ready to join duties as staff nurses if the third wave erupts.