Dhanbad Deputy Commissioner Uma Shankar Singh on Thursday inaugurated a 50-bed Dedicated Covid Health Centre (DCHC) at Regional Hospital of BCCL in Bhuli meant for treatment of asymptomatic patients or patients with mild symptoms.
Later, Singh also inspected the different parts of the hospital including its different wards, PPE kit room and Duty room.
Chairman Cum Managing director of BCCL, PM Prasad and others were present during the inauguration.
Singh also inspected the Zonal Training Institute of Railways at Bhuli, where a 100-bed DCHC is slated to be developed soon. Singh fixed the date for inauguration of block A and B of the Zonal Training Institute-based DCHC on August 8 and 10 respectively.

Proposal raised for paid hotel isolation facility

Dhanbad district administration on Thursday discussed the proposal to launch paid isolation facility for patients with mild symptoms or asymptomatic Covid patients, who can afford to pay for quarantine facility in hotels.
The proposal was discussed during the meeting of the Dhanbad Deputy Commissioner Uma Shankar Singh held with hotel and hospital owners in district Collectorate, during which Singh explained that the laid SOPs of ICMR will have to be followed for paid isolation facility in hotels as hospitals will have to make arrangements of paramedical staff at hotels and regular monitoring of the conditions of the patients using oxymeter will have to be carried out.
"The district administration will act as a bridge between hospital administration and hotel owners providing reference certificates for shifting of patients to hospitals even outside the district immediately," said Singh.

Covid: Four dead in Garhwa so far

A 55-year-old Covid-19 patient, who was also suffering from diabetes, died in Garhwa town on Thursday morning, taking the toll in the district that has 168 active cases to four.

"He was tested positive at the district hospital on Wednesday evening. Treatment was started immediately, and later he was referred to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) but he succumbed to death on Thursday morning," said civil surgeon Dr N K Rajak.

The district that reported 16 fresh cases on Wednesday evening, including one former MLA and his four others family members, witnessed its first casualty on July 19 with the death of a 55-year-old woman, who was tested positive after her death. She spread the infection to as many as three of her family members.

Garhwa saw its second fatality on July 24 with the death of a 84-year-old man, who was tested positive a day before. The deceased, a resident of Dehari in Bihar, had come to meet his son. He was in critical condition, and was also referred to RIMS but due to the absence of a government ambulance, he died in Garhwa Covid-19 hospital.

On August 2, Banshidhar Nagar registered its third casualty with the death of a 70-year-old retired Ayush Doctor. The patient was admitted to the Banshidhar Nagar hospital with heart trouble. He was referred to Garhwa Covid hospital but he passed away on the way to the hospital. He tested Covid positive after death.

Plantation drive for villagers Telegraph Picture

Plantation drive to make villagers self-sufficient

Villagers will be employed by Bokaro district administration to plant saplings of fruit-bearing trees in Kasmar Block under Birsa Harit Gram Scheme, giving them a mode of livelihood amid the ongoing Covid crisis.

Deputy Development Commissioner Jai Kishore Prasad said that about 1,200 saplings will be planted in Bagdha panchayat alone. Similar drives will be conducted in other eight blocks of the district, the DDC said, adding that under this scheme, 1.12 lakh saplings will be planted in 1,000 acres of land in the entire district.

Priority will be given to elderly and widowed women to plant and care for these saplings. Through this scheme, the government will encourage villagers to plant fruit-bearing trees on roadside, government land, individual or barren-land.

Support will be given to keep the plants safe for the next five years. They will be given plants on lease so that they can earn by selling fruits.

After about three years of plantation, each family will have an annual income of Rs 50,000. When their fruit production increases, they will be provided support for marketing as well as processing of fruits.

Electrosteel Steels Limited (ESL)'s free mobile health unit called ‘Aarogya Rath' Telegraph Picture

‘Aarogya Rath’ to provide free healthcare

Electrosteel Steels Limited (ESL) of Vedanta group has launched a free mobile health unit called ‘Aarogya Rath’, to help improve access to quality healthcare facilities in the Bokaro district.

The ESL, CSR department, in association with the Citizen Foundation, set up two health camps in Siyaljori and Babugram villages on Thursday. Around 50 people received free health check-ups and treatment in these camps. In coming times, these healthcare camps will also provide free pathological services and medicines to citizens residing in the nearby districts.

Speaking on the launch of the project, Pankaj Malhan, CEO, ESL said, “In all our neighboring villages, including Siyaljori and Babugram, healthcare is an ongoing challenge – because of remoteness of the location, lack of on-time facilities, testing, or access to adequate medicines. In view of these issues, we have started the Aarogya Rath – a complete mobile healthcare unit that will provide free health checkups, testing, as well as medicines to all in need. Beginning with 50 people in Siyaljori and Babugram, we plan to grow and provide necessary help to all 27 villages under our care, at all times.”