OPD inaugurated at AIIMS, Bilaspur in Himachal
The AIIMS Bilaspur would be made fully functional within next six months and people of the State as well as entire region would get highly specialized facilities within the State. This was stated by the Member of Parliament and National BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda while addressing the felicitation ceremony of Covid Vaccination Workers on the historic occasion of achieving cent percent vaccination of targeted eligible population of the State at Bilaspur today.
Jagat Prakash Nadda said that setting up of AIIMS outside Delhi was a vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as first AIIMS was established in Delhi way back in 1960. He said that as many as 22 AIIMS were coming up in entire country and all this was made possible by the Prime Minister. He said that the foundation stone of this institution was laid about three years back by the Prime Minister and this would have been completed a year ago, but the pace was affected due to corona pandemic. He said that Himachal Pradesh has got a Rs. 500 crore Satellite centre of PGI Chandigarh at Una.
National BJP President said that even most advanced nations like US have failed to tackle this pandemic, whereas on the other hand, a nation of 130 crore population led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has today succeeded to check this pandemic by launching the biggest vaccination campaign of the world. He said that as many as 127 crore vaccination doses have been administered in the country and vaccine was being supplied to about 50 countries of the world. He also congratulated the State Government, doctors, health care workers and all the frontline workers for achieving this unique feat as it was due to their dedication and commitment that Himachal has emerged as pioneer in vaccination.
Jagat Prakash Nada said that the State of Himachal Pradesh has become a frontrunner State in fields such as education, health, social services sector etc. He said that this was possible due to the able leadership of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, who has been working with dedication to ensure that the State emerges as role model for other states of the country. He also gave credit of development to the successive BJP Governments in the State. He said that Kol Dam, Atal Tunnel and PMGSY was also gift of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as it was his vision and dream which were fulfilled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Earlier, Member of Parliament and National BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda, Union Minister of Health, Chemicals and Fertilizers Mansukh Mandaviya, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur also dedicated OPD at AIIMS Kothipura in Bilaspur. Rekha of Kullu district became first OPD patient of this prestigious institution, who was diagnosed by Dr. Kapil Sharma of AIIMS Bilaspur.
They also honoured Covid Vaccine doctors and other health workers on the occasion.
Union Minister of Health, Chemicals and Fertilizers Mansukh Mandaviya said that the AIIMS was indeed a biggest gift of the Union Government to the State. He said that the world had acknowledged the brain power of the country. He said that out of ten scientists in NASA, almost about three scientists are Indian and Prime Minister Narendra Modi recognized the power of the country and encouraged the scientists to develop its own vaccination against corona virus. He said that medicines like azinomycin and remdesivir manufactured in India were supplied to about 100 countries. He said that over 123 crore vaccine doses were being prepared in the country and even now being exported to other countries. He said that all this was possible due to the faith reposed by the Prime Minister in its scientists, doctors and entrepreneurs. He said that Himachal Pradesh has shown a way to other States of the country by achieving this unique distinction of cent percent vaccination.
While addressing the event, Chief Minister said that this was an historic occasion for the people of the State as a big milestone has been set in the field of providing best health services to the people of the state with the start of OPD facility in AIIMS Bilaspur and Himachal Pradesh has achieved 100 percent target of second dose of Covid vaccination. He said that now the people of the State would get the facility of super specialty treatment of all kinds of diseases at AIIMS in Bilaspur which would benefit lakhs of people of the State, alongwith neighboring states.
Jai Ram Thakur said that the people of the State were grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who gave the gift of AIIMS, by giving preference to a small hill state like Himachal Pradesh. He said that Narendra Modi has always considered Himachal Pradesh as his second home and has given his full blessings for development according to the aspirations of the people. He also thanked BJP National President Jagat Prakash Nadda on this historic occasion, who cherished the dream of establishing AIIMS in Bilaspur and made this dream come true with his constant efforts. He said that the State was fortunate to have son of the soil Jagat Prakash Nadda leading the biggest political party of the world and Anurag Singh Thakur holding one of the most important Ministry in the Modi Government.
Chief Minister said that this was also an historic occasion for the State as the State today also celebrate achieving 100 percent target of second dose of vaccination to targeted age group. He said that despite the difficult geographical conditions, the State has secured first place in the country in the matter of administering the first dose of Covid vaccine to cent percent eligible citizens and now we have created history by achieving 100 percent target of administering the second dose to the targeted eligible population. He also thanked the people of the state for their full cooperation in the vaccination campaign. He said that the doctors, health workers, ASHA workers, had done a wonderful work and made the people of the State proud. He said that people of Bara Bangal in Kangra district and Malana village in Kullu district were vaccinated by airlifting the vaccine, doctors and paramedical staff.
Jai Ram Thakur said that the State was also fully prepared for tackling any possible third wave of corona, for which the capacity of beds in hospitals of the state has been increased from 3804 to 8765 and it would be increased to 11 thousand. He said that the State Government has taken steps to provide better treatment facilities and facility of Covid test has been made available in all the districts. RTPCR facility has been made available in all medical colleges and health institutions of all districts of the state, he added.
Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Youth Affairs and Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur congratulated the Chief Minister and people of the State for achieving a unique target of cent percent second dose vaccination of target population of over 53.77 lakh. He said that due to the timely and appropriate decisions by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country successfully handled the pandemic. He said that India has today emerged as a role model for other countries of the world during the testing times of pandemic. He said that at the time of Covid outbreak not even a single PPE kit was prepared in the country and today the country was not only manufacturing over 15 lakh PPE kits per day, but even exporting it to the several other countries. He said that indigenous vaccination was prepared and biggest vaccination campaign of the world was carried out in the country. He said that the AIIMS Bilaspur would be ready within next six years and people of the State would get world class health facilities in this institution. He also congratulated the State for ensuring zero percent wastage of vaccine.
State Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Rajiv Saizal welcomed the Member of Parliament and National BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda, Union Minister of Health, Chemicals and Fertilizers, Chief Minister, Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting and other dignitaries present on the occasion. He said that it was due to the able and committed leadership at the Centre and the State that nation and the State successfully handled the pandemic. He said that the State of Himachal Pradesh achieved this unique distinction of being first State of the country in achieving target of cent per cent vaccination of targeted eligible age group.
He said that despite all odds, the State has achieved these feats which have been appreciated by the Prime Minister. He said that to achieve the goal of complete vaccination, special gram sabhas were organized through Panchayati Raj Department under which lists of eligible persons were prepared by surveying every house. He said that specially abled, old citizens were provided vaccination through mobile teams and house-to-house vaccination. He said that complete vaccination was performed first in the inaccessible areas and tribal areas of the state and Kinnaur district became the first district in the entire country to administer the second dose of corona to all eligible adults. For the convenience of the workers working in industrial areas, vaccination sessions were organized according to their convenience and also by visiting their workplace, he added.
Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affair Minister Rajinder Garg presented vote of thanks.
A documentary regarding Covid-19 vaccination was also screened on the occasion.
A presentation was also made by the Director AIIMS and other officials regarding progress in work of the AIIMS.
MP and State BJP President Suresh Kashyap, Jal Shakti Minister Mahinder Singh Thakur, Urban Development Minister Suresh Bhardwaj, IT Minister Dr. Ram Lal Markanda, Power Minister Sukh Ram Chaudhary, MLAs, Political Advisor to the Chief Minister Trilok Jamwal, Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of various Boards and Corporation, Chief Secretary Ram Subhag Singh, Secretary Health Amitabh Awasthi, Chairman AIIMS Pramod Garg, Director AIIMS Bilaspur Dr. Veer Singh Negi, were present on the occasion among others.