Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today inspected the ongoing installation of the new oxygen plant at Nongpoh Civil Hospital and announced that a second such facility will be set up at the District Maternal and Child Health Hospital in Umran Niangbyrnai.
Sangma toured the Civil Hospital to inspect the work going into setting up the 150 litres per minute oxygen plant, which will provide high-flow oxygen to 25 beds. The plant will be functional by early next week.
“We have received the necessary equipment and installation work is ongoing. We still need to do the internal piping in the buildings and that will take a bit of time,” the CM said.
Two other such facilities, funded by the United Nations, will come up in Tura and Jowai. The Umran Niangbyrnai oxygen plant will be funded by Tata Trusts, who have committed to the project, he added.
“As cases continue to rise in the state, we need to be prepared for any eventuality and, of course, Ri-Bhoi district, being one of the entry points to the state, is very vulnerable”, Sangma said.
Ri-Bhoi has seen over 1,200 new Covid-19 infections this month, with 265 reported today.
Nongpoh MLA Mayralborn Syiem, Ri-Bhoi Deputy Commissioner RM Kurbah, District Medical & Health Officer Dr M Mawrie and other doctors and officers accompanied the Chief Minister during the visit.
Sangma then continued on to Jengjal in West Garo Hills where he inspected the site for another proposed oxygen plant.
Work to prepare the land is under way and the cryogenic tanks should arrive within three weeks.
On completion, this plant will cater to all five districts in Garo Hills and neighbouring West Khasi Hills.
