New Delhi, Jun 17 (IANS): Chhattisgarh has started gearing up to handle the possible third wave of Covid-19 and for this, all the government hospitals across the state are being upgraded and equipped with ultramodern facilities.

Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has said, "no stone would be left unturned in strengthening the health infrastructure and in making the healthcare and medical facilities easily accessible to common people even in the remotest of the areas in state."

Learning from the experiences of the second wave, the Chhattisgarh government has started upgrading all the district and block-level hospitals, making them fully-equipped with all facilities.

The chief minister has directed all the District Collectors to submit an action plan for upgrading the hospitals and health centers, within 15 days.

Baghel has said that this work of healthcare infrastructure upgradation should be done as top priority so that even if the third wave strikes, the state is ready to fight it with full force.

Baghel said that in the last six months, facilities such as ICU, oxygen related equipment, beds, ventilators etc in these hospitals have been enhanced and upgraded to provide better COVID treatment to the patients.

It is important to ensure proper maintenance and use of such medical equipment to prepare for the third wave of Covid. Recently, the number of doctors in community health centres has also been significantly increased in view of the need to further strengthen health management.

Baghel said that action plan for development of all the district hospitals and community health centers should be prepared as soon as possible. Under this plan, all the aforementioned hospitals should be made well-equipped with operation theatre, labour room, laboratory, ICU, ventilators, blood bank and free medicines etc. Chief Minister said that facilities in these hospitals should be upgraded to provide 24x7 treatment.