Nine medical colleges may start functioning this year, says Yogi

Getting ready for a possible third wave, the Uttar Pradesh government has started building the infrastructure with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath saying that nine medical colleges could start functioning from this year while the construction work is underway for 14 others.

“Nine medical colleges may start this year. Of these, the construction work for seven is almost complete. Principals have been appointed in all these nine medical colleges,” the CM said during a Covid review meeting held through video-conferencing here on Thursday.

Yogi said the appointment of about 50 per cent teachers has also been completed in these medical colleges which would boost the medical infrastructure.

During the meeting, the officers also apprised the chief minister of the progress in setting up 14 other medical colleges in the state. The construction work for 13 medical colleges has started. The CM said necessary arrangements should be made to start the teaching work in the medical colleges in time.
The CM was also apprised of adequate availability of oxygen in the state. Officials said that in the last 24 hours, 338 MT of oxygen was supplied across the state. Oxygen is available at the hospitals, medical colleges and refillers with a back-up of more than five days, the officials said.

The CM said that the Covid vaccination drive is going on effectively in the state and from June 21, the Central government would provide the facility of free vaccination for the age group of 18-44 years.

“All preparations should be made to expedite the vaccination drive. For this, cold chains, vaccinators and vaccination centres should be arranged with complete planning,” Yogi said.

“Vaccination is a protective shield against corona infection and therefore, it should be conducted in a systematic, smooth and uninterrupted manner,” the CM said. He was apprised that so far, the first dose of vaccine has been given to more than 2 crore people in the state. More than 50 lakh vaccine doses have been given to people in the age group of 18 to 44 years.

Meanwhile, 336 fresh cases of COVID-19 were reported in the state in the last 24 hours while 685 patients recovered. The active cases reduced to 6,019 as the recovery rate touched 98.4 per cent. Of the total active cases, 3,759 patients were said to be in home isolation.
Lucknow recorded only 16 fresh cases though 11 patients succumbed to the deadly infection on Thursday. Fifteen patients recovered while the active cases stood at 383.