Rourkela: Since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, SAIL, Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) has been playing a key role in tracing and treating the people impacted with the virus. When the 2nd wave of COVID-19 hit Steel City in April 2021, the Steel Plant has further strengthened its health care net by adding and modifying numerous facilities. Since last year a special 15-bed SARI ICU facility adorned with ventilators is functioning in the Ispat General Hospital.
Keeping in view the surge in the COVID-19 cases, two more wards were promptly developed as COVID wards so as to accommodate more patients, thereby increasing the total bed count in IGH for COVID patients to 128. Employees, their family members as well as non-entitled patients are availing treatment in these facilities. In the current spell of the pandemic, more than 180 persons have returned home after complete recovery.
Under the guidance of the Hon’ble Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan and in collaboration with the State Govt, a Virology Lab and a Plasma Bank are functioning in the hospital. The Virology Lab carrying out RTPCR test has been instrumental in containing the pandemic with quick detection of the disease. Apart from providing the results quickly, the first of its kind Lab in the region also reduced the load on the Testing labs of Bhubaneswar. At present more than 500 samples are being tested per day in this Lab, and plans are afoot to increase the same to 1000 samples per day. To reduce the recent rush for RTPCR testing, a second sample collection centre has started operation at the NEW OPD Building only for the employees and their family members. Keeping in view the emphasis on instant detection of COVID patients, Rapid Antigen tests are also being conducted in the hospital.
The Plasma bank, which was also first of its kind in the region with a capacity of 400 units, too has been useful in saving lives of many critically ill patients.
When the COVID-19 vaccination commenced in the country, IGH came forward and set up a vaccination centre for both entitled as well as non-entitled persons. With the rise in the number of people for vaccination, another Vaccination booth was set up at the New OPD only for employees and their family members.
When the country is going through one of the severest health crises in its history, the doctors, nurses, paramedics as well as all the supporting executives and employees of Ispat General Hospital are leaving no stones unturned in serving the humanity around.
