INS Kalinga: Indian Navy sets up Covid-19 care centre at Bheemunipatnam

The Indian Navy, in an effort to help the local population of Bheemunipatnam who are dealing with the second wave of Covid-19, has set up a 60-bed Covid-19 care centre at INS, Kalinga, Bheemunipatnam. All the facilities were provided to the public by AP Tourism Minister and Bheemunipatnam's MLA Shri Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao on 11 May 2021. The Commanding Officer, INS Kalinga started the Covid care centre, which has adequate facilities to provide treatment to Covid-19 positive patients with moderate symptoms in Bheemunipatnam Mandal and adjoining regions. The Indian Army provided administrative, logistic support, food conservancy services, and medical equipment. The centre will be taken care of by three doctors and ten nursing staff by the Community Health Centre. For the maintenance and running of the Covid care centre, an MoU witnessed by Cmde Neeraj Uday, INS Kalinga, and the Superintendent of the Community Health Centre Bheemunipatnam in the presence of the Tourism Minister and Dr G Suryanarayana, the District Medical and Health Officer. The Covid care centre has all the medical facilities to provide care to the Covid patients having mild to moderate symptoms. Out of 60 beds, 14 have the provision for oxygen cylinders and concentrators. The arrangement and accommodation for doctors and nursing staff near the Covid care centre are prepared to ensure round the clock care of the patients. Along with the Covid care centre at Bheemunipatnam, additional facilities are being provided in consultation with the state governments. The Eastern Naval Command besides deploying the ships for transportation of relief materials from overseas, has also built a 50-bed Covid Care Centre at INS Eksila, Gajuwaka for Covid positive Armed Forces Veterans, and one more 200-bed Covid Care Centre at Naval Dockyard Visakhapatnam, which will be used by an outsized number of defence civilians. Image SourceAlso read: Design module for disaster management healthcare units Also Read: NTPC stations across India contribute to fight against Covid-19