LEH: Ladakh is expected to receive COVID-19 vaccines by the month of February next year for which 17 points in Kargil and 15 points in Leh have already been recognized for their storage. On receiving of the vaccines, the medical fraternity and then the senior citizens would be given preference for receiving the vaccination. This was stated by Commissioner/Secretary Health & Medical Education, UT Ladakh, Rigzin Sampheal, while addressing a press conference. Sampheal highlighted the continuous effort of the UT Administration in giving satisfactory service to the people even in the face of paucity of medical staff, making additional 50 ambulances functional, establishing COVID testing labs in both the districts and training to the lab technicians. He said that every arrangement has been made by the UT Administration to keep these Covid centers winter-ready and functional in the coming cold months of Ladakh. “District Administrations of Leh and Kargil have made winter prepared fully functional 7 Covid Care Centers in Kargil and 5 in Leh district. Administration has made a 200 bed facility in Kargil hospital and in the coming days, the ICU unit in SNM hospital in Leh will see an increased facility of 120 beds. The heating and oxygen facility at Mahabodhi Karuna Charitable hospital has also been strengthened. Hospitals of Leh and Kargil are fully equipped with sufficient oxygen facilities,” he said adding that personnel addition of 100 nurses each in Leh and Kargil hospitals will be made. In addition to current singleengine heli service, Sampheal said, the administration will also use the service of Mi17 choppers for meeting aerial support to far flung areas like Zanskar, Nubra, Changthang, and Drass. Urging the general public to help contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus, especially during the annual celebration of Losar, Sampheal appealed to the general public to observe the Losar celebration at home with only family members and try to avoid visiting relatives this festive season and contribute to containing the spread of coronavirus. Replying to a query, the Commissioner Secretary Health affirmed that the SNM Hospital Leh has all the facilities for the patients and various steps have been taken for further improvement in giving satisfactory service to Covid patients in particular and others in general. Giving a detailed account of Covid history in Ladakh, he informed that Covid-19 relief funds are being used towards relief to poor and needy on recommendations of the LAHDCs.
