Power Finance Corporation Ltd, Central PSU under the Ministry of Power has tied up with TajSats, one of Asia’s largest food companies, to provide hygienic and nutritious food to frontline COVID warriors. As part of this endeavor, PFC will provide packed lunch boxes to doctors and other Medical Staff engaged in the treatment of COVID-19 patients at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi.
The company has provided financial assistance of 64 lakh rupees to TajSats for the supply of high-quality and hygienic food to the Doctors and Medical Staff of RML Hospital daily for 60 days.
Health Ministry has selected RML Hospital in New Delhi as one of the hospitals dedicated to the treatment of COVID-19 where doctors and other health staff are providing round the clock medical and other health services to COVID-19 patients.
Earlier, PFC contributed 200 crore rupees to the PM-CARES Fund to support the battle against the pandemic. The employees of PFC have also come forward for the cause and have donated their one day salary to PM CARES Fund. Further, PFC has contributed ₹ 50,00,000 (₹ Fifty Lakhs only) each to the District Collectors of Siddharth Nagar and Bulandshahar in Uttar Pradesh along with ₹ 50,00,000 (INR Fifty Lakhs only) to Indian Red Cross Society to provide medical equipment in Kota, Rajasthan.
Meanwhile, the health ministry has advised States and Union Territories to organize home deliveries of essential medicines like calcium, ORS, zinc, contraceptives, iron-folic in containment zones to ensure maternal and child health care amid the Coronavirus pandemic. It said drugs and commodities needed for continuing Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health Plus Nutrition services should be treated as essential commodities.
In this regard, the Ministry issued a guidance note today, wherein it was stressed that critical services for women, children, and adolescents should be provided irrespective of their COVID-19 status. Ministry said, campaign mode services like mass vitamin A prophylaxis, campaigns for Intensified Diarrhea Control Fortnight, National De-worming Day and Test, Treat and Talk camps for Anemia, can be organized on an alternative mechanism like through home delivery of essential services and commodities, based on the local situation.
Health Ministry said that all COVID suspects and positive cases should be provided services at a dedicated COVID facility. It said, COVID testing is not mandatory for these services and ICMR testing guidelines need to be followed. It also stressed on the use of teleconsultation services to prevent overcrowding and reduce cross-infection.
The Ministry said, with more than 2.5 crore pregnancies each year in the country, it is important to ensure the availability of services during this period as any denial of services can have an impact on maternal and newborn mortalities.