Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday in a conversation with Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat discussed the preparations and operations being undertaken by the Armed Forces to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic
CDS Rawat briefed PM Modi that all medical personnel from armed forces who've retired or taken pre-mature retirement in last 2 years are being recalled to work in Covid facilities within proximity of their present place of residence.
Other medical officers who retired requested to make their services available for consultation through emergency helplines. The Prime Minister was informed that all medical officers on staff appointments at Command HQ, Corps HQ, Division HQ and similar HQ of Navy and the Indian Air Force will be employed at hospitals.
The Chief of Defence Staff further informed PM Modi that nursing personnel are being employed in large numbers to complement the doctors at the hospitals. PM was also briefed that oxygen cylinders available with armed forces in various establishments will be released for hospitals.
Bipin Rawat went on to say that they are creating medical facilities in large numbers and where possible military medical infrastructure will be made available to civilians.
The Prime Minister also reviewed the operations being undertaken by IAF to transport oxygen and other essentials in India and abroad.
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The crucial phone call took place at a time when India is battling the deadly second wave of Coronavirus. The country reported 3,52,991 new Covid-19 cases and 2,812 deaths in the last 24 hours.
As per Union Health Ministry, active caseload in the country constituted 16.25% of the total positive cases so far and stood at 2,813,658. So far, 17,313,163 cases and 195,123 deaths have been reported in India.