North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) and the regional office of the National Highway and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) handed over various equipment today in separate events.
In Nongpoh, NEEPCO handed over Rs 1.23 crore worth of equipment to be used to generate oxygen. Meanwhile, in Shillong, the NHIDCL presented the Health Department with two ambulances. Both donations were made as part of the companies’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes.
The oxygen supply system will be able to furnish Nongpoh Civil Hospital with up to 1.22 lakh litres of oxygen.
The launch of the new equipment was held today in the presence of NEEPCO Director of Personnel, Anil Kumar, Nongpoh MLA Mayralborn Syiem, Deputy Commissioner RM Kurbah, District Medical and Health Officer Dr M Mawrie and the hospital superintendent Dr PN Chyne.
Dr Chyne said that the project was meant to be launched last year but was delayed. Nevertheless it has come at a crucial time, just when the second wave of the pandemic is stretching health infrastructure to the limit.
The oxygen supply will be piped directly to the 100 hospital beds. So far, the connections have been set up for 31 beds, with 69 still to go. This piped system will save on time, manpower and energy required in moving individual cylinders around.
Other equipment donated by NEEPCO include a fully automatic biochemistry, haematology, immunoassay analyser, microscope, HD laparoscope, sample rotator and centrifuge.
In Shillong, Health Minister AL Hek was presented with the keys to two new ambulances by Col Narendra Sheoran of the NHIDCL.
These ambulances will be deployed on highways and in order to provide immediate first aid to accident victims and rescue persons in distress during natural calamities.
In a press release, these ambulances were described as “state of the art”. Apart from 50 basic medicines and first aid dressing items, they are equipped with “automatic stretcher, portable and fitted oxygen device, thermometer, stethoscope, oximeter, blood pressure monitor, automatic external defibrillator, two-way radio, automatic vehicle tracker with GPS and intercom” and others items.
NHIDCL also said that it is in the process of purchasing a further 10 basic ambulances to be handed over to the government soon.
