Punjab CM inaugurates 50-bed paediatric Covid care ward in Ludhiana

Preparing the state for a possible third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, on Wednesday, virtually inaugurated a 50-bed Paediatric Covid Care Ward, set up at CMC Hospital, Ludhiana, as a partnership initiative between the hospital and the Police Public Foundation (PPF).

On the occasion, an MoU was also signed, in the Chief Minister’s presence, for setting up two oxygen plants in the district, for which 20 industries have donated Rs 1.2 crore. Under the agreement, 20% of oxygen treatment will be subsidised for poor patients.

Terming the collaborative initiatives of the state’s industry and the civil society, as well as the police, as wonderful gestures, the Chief Minister said the pandemic was a major challenge and the state had to be prepared for the worst. Though nobody knows if there will be a third wave in India, Punjab is making all efforts to gear up for another possible surge, which could affect the children more, he added.

Lauding the industry’s stellar role in supporting the state government’s fight against the pandemic, Capt Amarinder said that the industry in Punjab had always been at the helm of extending a helping hand in every crisis. Vardhman and Oswal industries had helped with oxygen supplies when cases were at the peak at over 9,500 a day, he recalled. Though the cases declined to 2,184 as of 1 June, it was not possible to ascertain how long the crisis will continue, the CM said.