Vijayawada: A UNICEF delegation has called on Chief Minister Jaganmohan Reddy at the camp officer here on Thursday and handed over a set of oxygen concentrators for Covid patients.
The delegation comprising Prosun Sen (communication, advocacy and partnership specialist) Dr Saleema Bhatia (health specialist, AP) and Grace Cancer Foundation directors Dr Daniel, Dr Chinna Babu and Dr Praveen handed over 240 oxygen concentrators on behalf of United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) as also 25 concentrators and N95 masks worth Rs. 50 lakh on behalf of the foundation for Covid treatment.
The representatives were accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Amjad Basha and APSFL chairman P. Goutham Reddy.
Later, speaking to the media near the camp office, Prosun Sen and Dr Bhatia said the state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has been containing Covid-19 effectively and Unicef has extended its support in the state’s fight against the pandemic.
They had donated RT-PCR testing machines to three hospitals (Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS), Tirupati; All India Institute of Medical Sciencs (AIIMS), Mangalgiri; and Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Kadapa) last year.
Also, 8,500 staff members with Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas (MEPMA) were given training under Unicef in the manufacturing of sanitisers, masks, soaps and antiseptic liquid material.
They said they have also created awareness on hygiene among 1,29,25,078 people across the state and have distributed 1,64,379 pieces of soaps in Kurnool and Prakasam districts.
They said Unicef has been working in coordination with the state health and medical department in developing Covid protocols and guidelines and also extending help in the communication and community engagement campaign.
Unicef is helping in identifying orphans whose parents died of Covid and sending them to state government shelter homes.
Meanwhile, a delegation of the Kshatriya community paid a courtesy visit to Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and thanked him for the setting up of Kshatriya Corporation. Housing minister Cherukuvada Sriranganatha Raju, MLA Mudnuri Prasad Raju, MLC Satya Narayana Raju, Pathapati Sarraju, Raju Gaadi Raju and Narayana Raju were in the delegation.
They said the Kshatriya Corporation would help in the growth of the community and said Kshatriyas backed the CM in his pursuit of development and a welfare-aimed governance.
Meanwhile, National BC Welfare Association president Krishnaiah has called on the CM at the camp office on Thursday and requested him to put pressure on the Centre as regards the demands related to BC communities.
Krishnaiah lauded the CM for his “transparent, corruption-free and efficient governance” and said the credit for introducing the historic BC Bill in Rajya Sabha goes to the CM. He said Jagan implemented BC welfare steps like the setting up of 56 BC corporations and allotting 50 per cent quota for BC, SC, ST and Minorities in nominated posts and contract works.
