Three civil hospitals in Meghalaya were on Tuesday equipped with oxygen-generation plants with support extended by the government of Japan and the UNDP to help treat critically ill Covid-19 patients.

Japan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have been supporting India’s response to the pandemic since June 2020 by “strengthening” the health and social protection systems, most importantly reviving livelihoods, targeting the most vulnerable population.

Union minister Jitendra Singh had said in May that Japan and the UNDP would help set up the eight oxygen-generation plants in the Northeast, three of which were in Meghalaya and the remaining five in Tripura and Nagaland.

The eight oxygen plants have the capacity to serve approximately 1,300 beds. Each plant produces up to 800 litres of oxygen per minute.

Launching the oxygen plant in Tura on Tuesday, Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma thanked the UNDP, the people of Japan and the government of Japan for “contributing to this crisis management” and enabling Meghalaya to fight Covid in a “stronger” way.

Sangma inspects the plant Telegraph picture

“The relationship between Japan and India has been grown from strength to strength.… In crisis like these, the true nature of our relationship comes out. This help only confirms and strengthens the relationship of Japan and India,” Sangma said, thanking the Prime Ministers of both the countries.

Meghalaya health minister A. L. Hek inaugurated Nongpoh Civil Hospital oxygen plant and MLA W. Shylla inaugurated the Jowai MCH Hospital plant.

“As a good friend and partner of India, Japan is very happy to strengthen the capacity of health facilities in Meghalaya in partnership with the UNDP. We hope that our contribution will help save more lives,” Satoshi Suzuki, Japan’s ambassador said.

Shoko Noda, UNDP Resident Representative in India, said the UN’s development agency stands committed to support the government of India with support from donors, development partners and UN sister agencies.

“I am happy that our several months of effort to procure, build capacity of hospital

staff and set the plants up and running has come to fruition. Together, we can better prepare for future crises,” said Noda.