More construction of oxygen plants

DRDO chief C Satheesh Reddy on Monday exclaimed that as India moves out of the second phase of the virus that led to a massive crisis in medical oxygen throughout the country, nearly 850 oxygen plants are getting constructed in numerous districts from the PM Cares Fund. Reddy during the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav Discourse Series’ of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) stressed the fact that the DRDO was ready to lend all kinds of help including more ‘flying hospitals’ when demanded during the fight against the virus, a DST statement recorded.

He stated, “We established temporary hospitals specific to Covid-19 in many cities (during the second wave). These are modular hospitals, we call it flying hospitals, and these have been made in a way that the virus does not go out of the hospitals.”

Reddy exclaimed, “If there is any third wave, all the hospitals will be taking the load, and the government is discussing these aspects with various stakeholders.”

When the Covid-19 was at its height in the month of April and May, India faced a serious crisis in the supply of medical oxygen, when hospitals in numerous parts of the country was falling short of the gas because of excessive demand.

As per the DST statement, Reddy stated, “A total of 850 oxygen plants are being set up in various districts of the country from PM Cares Fund for catering to the needs of the country to fight the pandemic Covid-19.”

He exclaimed how the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) is researching on the advanced technology in respect to defence. In addition to this, they are also focusing on developing low-cost but high-quality technology for the benefit of the masses.

Ashutosh Sharma, DST Secretary spoke about the different types of ways that the Centre and the DST is taking to tackle the current scenario and how to keep the vaccines safe and ensure that they reach to the grass root levels of the country.

He also told about the various manner how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help in fighting against Covid-19.

Sharma concluded, “Technologies have been developed for storing and transporting vaccines to every nook and corner of the country. New ways of storing vaccines have been developed as per the Indian conditions. Convergence of technologies is the future, and AI can play a great role in diagnostics, telemedicine and will have tremendous importance in remote monitoring, diagnostics and decision-making in fighting pandemic.”