Kolkata: At a time when the entire nation is struggling to cope with the horrific proportions taken by Covid 19’s second wave, various commu...
Kolkata: At a time when the entire nation is struggling to cope with the horrific proportions taken by Covid 19’s second wave, various community-led initiatives have been introduced to support the activities of the local governments in tackling the growing menace. JITO, a non-profit body of the Jain community is one such organisation that has launched the “Oxygen on Wheels” concept in Kolkata.
Working closely with the West Bengal Department of Health and
Family welfare, they launched the first Oxygen on Wheels Bus in
Kolkata on May 11 in Kolkata. It includes a modified 32-seater
bus equipped with 4 oxygen concentration machines of 5 LPM. The
bus is also equipped with fans, mobile charging points, and redesigned seats to
make patients comfortable and reduce their suffering. Up to 4
patients can be serviced within the bus at a time. It will be
stationed at government hospitals for patients waiting to be admitted
and in need of oxygen. A health technician by the
hospital will be provided for giving oxygen support. The entire
admission of patients inside the bus will be at the sole discretion of the
management of the govt hospital. The hospital will also be supplying the
electrical power required to operate the oxygen concentrators. The bus
will be moving from one location to another and stationed at any of the state
hospitals under the direction of the health department.
“We believe this is the time for the entire community to come together
as one and support the activities of the government in any way possible. We are
all in this fight against Covid 19 together. We look forward to undertaking
many more initiatives to save precious lives,” said Rajesh
Bhutoria, Chairman, JITO Kolkata Chapter. Bhaven Kamdar, Hony
Secretary, was highly appreciative of the government’s support. “We are
grateful to the CM for not only giving us the permission in a matter of hours
when this was put forth but for extending all support by the Department
of Health and Family welfare.” “The whole thing was put together in less
than 48 hours from ideation to permissions to the physical launch of the
bus,” as per Sheetal Dugar, one of the brains behind the concept. Vinod
Dugar readily consented and gave the school buses for this noble cause.
There are plans of launching 2 to 3 more such Oxygen on Wheels. Plans
are also being discussed to increase the number of oxygen concentrators in each
bus from 4 to 6, depending on how the pilot project is received. The
Oxygen on Wheels bus has been presently deployed at the NRS Medical
College from Tuesday.
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